Cancer screening has demonstrable benefits, particularly through early detection and improved survival outcomes. However, screening can also result in psychological burden associated with decision-making, attending screening, waiting for results, receiving results, and undergoing any required follow-up. Current evidence suggests these impacts are generally short term, but may be greater among certain subgroups, including women and people who smoke. Psychological burden may also influence participation in screening programs.
The National Lung Cancer Screening Program, launched in Australia in July 2025, is the first new national cancer screening program introduced in 20 years. Unlike cervical, breast, and bowel cancer screening programs, which are primarily age-based, lung cancer screening uses a risk-based approach incorporating both age and smoking history to improve the risk–benefit balance.
This presentation will examine evidence relating to psychological burden in breast, bowel, and cervical cancer screening programs, alongside emerging evidence from lung cancer screening pilots and real-world implementation programs. Lung cancer screening presents additional psychosocial considerations, including the comparatively poor prognosis of lung cancer (5-year survival of 26%, compared with 71% for bowel cancer and 92% for breast cancer), stigma associated with smoking, and the classification of eligible participants as being at “high risk”.
Importantly, populations at greatest risk of lung cancer — and therefore most likely to benefit from screening — may also be less likely to participate. These groups are priority populations for the National Lung Cancer Screening Program. Understanding and addressing psychosocial impacts is therefore critical to supporting equitable participation and informed decision-making.
This presentation will also highlight measures incorporated into the service design of the National Lung Cancer Screening Program to help minimise psychological burden and support appropriate screening uptake.