Lung cancer screening: how countries compare
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General information only. Not medical advice and not a substitute for a doctor.
Elsewhere, call your local emergency number.
Each country bases its guidelines on its own evidence reviews and health system. Age Flags lists them side by side and does not judge between them.
United States
| Item | Who it is for | How often / doses | Guideline | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-dose CT scan of the chest (LDCT) Lung cancer screening |
ages 50 to 80; Heavy smoking history, and currently smokes or quit recently (see the note for the thresholds) | every year · For people with a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years who smoke now or quit within the past 15 years; screening stops once a person has not smoked for 15 years. | US Preventive Services Task Force · Lung Cancer: Screening · USPSTF grade B MyHealthfinder: Lung Cancer Screening: Questions for the Doctor |
England, UK
| Item | Who it is for | How often / doses | Guideline | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lung health check (CT scan if at higher risk) Lung cancer screening |
ages 55 to 74; Current or former smoker, living in an area of England where NHS lung health checks are offered | Lung health checks are still being rolled out and are not yet offered in every area of England. | NHS England · NHS lung cancer screening (lung health check) · National programme UK NSC screening recommendation: Lung cancer |
China
| Item | Who it is for | How often / doses | Guideline | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-dose CT scan of the chest (LDCT) Lung cancer screening |
ages 50 to 74; At high risk of lung cancer: a heavy smoking history above the pack-year threshold in the national plan (including former smokers who quit recently), many years of living or working with smokers, COPD, occupational exposure (such as asbestos, radon or coal smoke), or a parent, child or sibling diagnosed with lung cancer | every year · For people at high risk with no history of lung cancer. Chest X-ray, MRI, PET-CT and biomarker tests are not recommended for screening. | National Health Commission (China) · 肺癌筛查与早诊早治方案(2024年版) · National guideline 国家卫生健康委办公厅关于印发肺癌筛查与早诊早治方案(2024年版)和结直肠癌筛查与早诊早治方案(2024年版)的通知 — 朝阳市卫生健康委员会网站转载 |
Japan
| Item | Who it is for | How often / doses | Guideline | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest X-ray Lung cancer screening |
age 40 and over | every year · Screening is particularly recommended for people aged 40 to 69. | Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan) · がん予防重点健康教育及びがん検診実施のための指針 · National guideline がん検診について（国立がん研究センター がん情報サービス） がん予防重点健康教育及びがん検診実施のための指針の一部改正について（令和7年12月24日 通知） The publisher has listed a newer edition, which applies from a later date. Source |
Spain
No national guideline item on this topic could be verified automatically for this country.
Brazil
No national guideline item on this topic could be verified automatically for this country.
Emergency and crisis lines
United States
Emergency 911 Emergency services (United States) · Source
Crisis line 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (United States) · Available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. · Source
United Kingdom
Emergency 999 NHS England · Source
Health advice 111 NHS England · Source
Crisis line 116 123 Samaritans · Open 24 hours a day. · Source
China
Emergency 120 National Health Commission (China) · Source
Crisis line 12356 National Health Commission (China) · Each line provides at least 18 hours of service a day under the national notice; hours vary by city. · Source
Japan
Emergency 119 Fire and Disaster Management Agency (Japan) · Source
Crisis line 0120‑061‑338 #いのちSOS (Lifelink) · Open 24 hours a day, every day (free call). · Source
Crisis line 0120‑279‑338 Yorisoi Hotline · Open 24 hours a day (free call). · Source
Spain
Emergency 112 Emergency services (Spain) · Source
Crisis line 024 Ministerio de Sanidad (Spain) · Free and confidential, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. · Source
Brazil
Emergency 192 Ministério da Saúde (Brazil) · Source
Crisis line 188 CVV — Centro de Valorização da Vida · Free, 24 hours a day, anywhere in Brazil. · Source
Elsewhere, call your local emergency number.