National collaboration led by Canadian Partnership Against Cancer is creating opportunities to find lung cancer earlier, connect people with smoking cessation support, and improve cancer outcomes

TORONTO, Nov. 4, 2026 /CNW/ -- A report released today by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (the Partnership) shows lung cancer screening has reached a turning point in Canada: Seven provinces are now offering screening for people at high risk, with three additional provinces and one territory in the planning stages.

The report outlines progress in lung cancer screening and describes a significant shift in how Canada is addressing its deadliest cancer. It shows how coordinated national action is driving meaningful health system change and moving lung cancer screening from evidence to implementation faster than other cancer screening programs in Canadian history.

"For decades, lung cancer has claimed more lives than any other type of cancer and has disproportionately affected First Nations, Inuit, Métis, rural, remote and other populations experiencing inequities," said Dr. Craig Earle, CEO of the Partnership. "Screening enables us to catch cancer earlier, giving us the opportunity to change that trajectory. Our role at the Partnership is to help turn this opportunity into action, bringing partners together and supporting jurisdictions to build high-quality, equitable screening programs that can reach more people."

The Partnership has laid the foundation for this progress, working with provinces, territories, health system partners and communities. In 2011, evidence emerged demonstrating the effectiveness of lung cancer screening for people whose history of smoking puts them at high risk. Since then, the Partnership has convened partners, shared practical learnings, supported lung cancer screening program development, and enabled jurisdictions to learn from one another and international experience.

The Partnership has invested $11.5 million in lung cancer screening since 2020, helping provinces and territories develop programs and clinical processes, engage communities to help ensure that programs are culturally safer and responsive to local contexts, and strengthen smoking cessation supports for people who participate in the program. This pan-Canadian approach has helped create conditions for provinces and territories to move farther and faster together than they could alone.

The importance of lung cancer screening

The opportunity is significant. Historically, about 70 per cent of lung cancers have been diagnosed at advanced stages, when treatment options are more limited and survival is poorer. Screening can help find lung cancer in people at high risk due to a history of smoking before symptoms appear, improving opportunities for earlier treatment.

Early results show promise. Approximately 60 per cent of lung cancers detected through screening are being diagnosed at the earliest stage (Stage I), while only about 10 per cent are detected at the most advanced stage (Stage IV). More than 60 per cent of people diagnosed at the earliest stage survive at least five years, compared with about three per cent of those diagnosed at the most advanced stage.

Helping cancer patients quit smoking

Screening creates an important opportunity to connect people with smoking cessation support earlier.  For people who smoke, but are not eligible for lung cancer screening, quitting smoking can help prevent lung and other cancers.  For people who are diagnosed with cancer, quitting smoking improves a person's chance of living beyond any cancer by 40 per cent and can make cancer treatment more effective, while reducing costs to the health system. Since 2018, the Partnership and its partners have also worked to integrate smoking cessation more consistently into cancer care pathways, including lung screening programs, so people can be connected with support as part of their care. Today, 95 per cent of cancer centres in Canada offer smoking cessation interventions, compared to 56 per cent in 2017.

Through lung cancer screening programs, the Partnership and its partners have further strengthened the integration of smoking cessation support, ensuring people who are at high risk can be connected to support as a part of their care, and others who are not currently eligible can benefit from smoking cessation support as a powerful prevention strategy.  The Partnership also brings smoking cessation and lung screening partners together to share knowledge and strengthen culturally safer approaches, helping screening programs build on existing cessation work and adapt resources for First Nations, Inuit and Métis.

The future of lung cancer screening

The next opportunity is to build on this momentum. Expanding sustainable access to lung cancer screening can help more people at high risk benefit from screening, smoking cessation support and earlier diagnosis. Increasing participation among eligible people, strengthening data collection and addressing inequities can extend these benefits to more people across Canada.

Canada's progress shows what is possible when jurisdictions work together around shared evidence and goals. By connecting partners, investing strategically and helping spread successful approaches across the country, the Partnership is helping accelerate a more connected approach to lung cancer, one that brings together prevention, screening and earlier diagnosis to improve outcomes.

Quotes

"Cancer screening is one of the most important tools we have in the fight against cancer, as it leads to early diagnosis and better health outcomes for Canadians. Advancements in cancer screening have led to significant decreases in the incidence and mortality rates of lung cancer in recent years. A shared, proactive approach to cancer screening for those at high risk will help to further improve health outcomes."

- Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health

"The rapid expansion of lung cancer screening across Canada is a significant achievement. Screening can help detect more lung cancers at an earlier, more treatable stage and connect people who are still smoking with smoking cessation support, but its benefits must be accessible to everyone. That means addressing the geographic barriers faced by First Nations, Inuit and Métis and people living in rural and remote communities, as well as the social and economic inequities that can make screening less accessible for them and many others. By reducing these barriers, we can help more people access screening, receive an earlier diagnosis and achieve better outcomes."

- Dr. Stephen Lam, Chair of the Pan-Canadian Lung Cancer Screening Network

"Lung cancer screening can help find cancer early, when treatment is more likely to be successful. Canada has made important progress toward expanding access, but there is more work to do. Through our leadership of the Pan-Canadian Lung Cancer Action Plan, the Canadian Cancer Society is bringing the lung cancer community together to build on this progress, advance equitable access to screening, prevention, care, clinical trials and research, and help people affected by lung cancer live longer, healthier lives."

- Dr. Sarah Viehbeck, Chief Mission Officer, Canadian Cancer Society

About the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer  

As steward of the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control (the Strategy), the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer works with provincial and territorial ministries of health and their cancer programs, First Nations, Inuit and Métis governments and organizations, health system leaders and experts, and people affected by cancer across Canada to implement the Strategy to improve cancer outcomes for all people in Canada. Learn more at partnershipagainstcancer.ca. 

SOURCE Canadian Partnership Against Cancer