Lung Cancer Screening Program in England Shows Promising Results in Early Detection
Archynews.com – March 23, 2026 – A national lung cancer screening program in England is demonstrating significant progress in early cancer detection, particularly among socioeconomically deprived populations. Data collected through March 2025 reveal a substantial increase in the proportion of lung cancers diagnosed at earlier stages, offering improved treatment outcomes for patients.
The NHS England Targeted Lung Health Check Programme, launched in 2019 and now the national Lung Cancer Screening Programme, invites individuals aged 55–74 who have ever smoked to undergo screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT). As of March 2025, over 2.5 million participants had been invited for a baseline Lung Health Check, representing 32.4% of the estimated 7.7 million potentially eligible individuals.
Of those invited, 49.0% (1,229,714) completed a Lung Health Check. Subsequently, 47.5% of those who qualified based on risk assessment models underwent a baseline LDCT scan. A total of 7,193 lung cancers were diagnosed by March 2025, representing 1.4% of those who underwent baseline LDCT scans, with 2,228 diagnoses occurring in the last year.
Notably, 63.1% of diagnosed cancers were at stage 1, 12.6% at stage 2, 8.8% at stage 3, and 2.8% were unspecified. National data indicate a steady increase in early-stage lung cancer detection rates across the UK since the pandemic.
A particularly encouraging trend is the increase in early-stage diagnoses among individuals in the most deprived socioeconomic areas. Since the program’s inception, the proportion of stages 1 and 2 lung cancers in this group has risen, surpassing rates observed in more affluent populations – a change not seen in other cancers.
The program’s implementation faced initial challenges due to COVID-19 restrictions, but has since demonstrated feasibility and scalability in reaching high-risk and underserved populations. Ongoing efforts are focused on addressing inequalities in participation to ensure equitable access to screening.