Frequently Asked Questions

Screening is recommended for adults who:

• are aged 50 to 80
• have a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years
• still smoke, or quit within the past 15 years

Not sure if you qualify? Take the free pack-year test.

A pack-year is a simple way to measure how much you have smoked. Multiply the number of packs you smoked per day by the number of years you smoked. One pack a day for 20 years is 20 pack-years, and so is two packs a day for 10 years.

A low-dose CT scan is a special kind of X-ray that takes multiple pictures as you lie on a table that slides through the scanner. A computer then combines them into a detailed 3D picture of your lungs.

It uses up to 90% less radiation than a conventional CT scan, so it is safe for yearly screening. There are no needles or contrast dyes.

The whole appointment usually takes less than 30 minutes.

1. Registration and review. Our team briefly reviews your history and explains the procedure.
2. The scan. You lie on the scanner bed and hold your breath for about 5 to 10 seconds while the bed moves.
3. The report. Thoracic radiologists review your images and send a detailed report to your doctor.

Every scan is reported by specialist thoracic radiologists, who focus on chest imaging. Your report is sent straight to your doctor.

Lung cancer often causes no symptoms until it is advanced. Screening with a low-dose CT scan can find it at an earlier stage, when it is more treatable. Studies have shown that screening can reduce lung cancer deaths among people at high risk.

• False positives. A scan may show something that turns out not to be cancer. This can cause worry and lead to more tests, but most findings are not cancer.
• Overdiagnosis. Some cancers found through screening might never have caused symptoms or harm, which can lead to treatment that wasn’t needed.

This is why it’s worth talking it through with your doctor before you book.

Yes, we recommend it. Your doctor can help you weigh up the benefits and risks of screening based on your personal risk, your overall health and your preferences. Doctors are welcome to call us on 011 304 7853 to refer a patient.

Once a year, for as long as you meet the screening criteria. Regular yearly scans make it possible to spot changes in your lungs over time.

Yes. See a doctor promptly if you notice a cough that won’t go away, chest pain, shortness of breath, unexplained weight loss or coughing up blood, even if you were screened recently.

No. Quitting smoking is still the most effective way to lower your risk of lung cancer. If you smoke and would like to stop, ask your doctor about support to quit.