(MENAFN) The Welsh government has announced plans to offer lung cancer screening to current and former smokers aged 55 to 74, with a phased rollout set to begin in 2027. The oldest eligible individuals will receive the first invitations to participate.

Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, a disease often detected only after it has spread, making treatment more difficult. Public Health Wales (PHW) highlighted that the screening program could save lives, especially in more deprived communities where lung cancer death rates are notably higher.

This decision follows a successful pilot in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board area, where 600 people were screened, leading to 12 lung cancer diagnoses—two-thirds of which were caught at an early stage.

Heather Lewis from PHW explained that lung cancer is frequently identified too late, but screening can find it earlier when treatment is more effective. “Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Wales,” she said, stressing that earlier detection allows treatment to start sooner and improves chances of living longer, healthier lives.

Wales’ Health Secretary Jeremy Miles said the program would use mobile CT scanners and provide support to help participants quit smoking. In 2022, about 340,000 people in Wales—14.1% of the population—were smokers, according to official statistics.

The screening rollout will occur in three stages to allow the NHS to build capacity. It will also include protocols to detect other respiratory conditions like COPD. The full program is estimated to cost approximately £13 million annually.

England is expected to fully implement a similar lung cancer screening program for smokers aged 55 to 74 by 2029.

According to the NHS, lung cancer is a common and serious illness often diagnosed late because symptoms usually appear only in advanced stages. Over 43,000 people in the UK receive a lung cancer diagnosis each year. It primarily affects older adults, with smoking as the main cause. While treatments and outcomes depend on cancer type and stage, early diagnosis greatly increases survival chances.

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