Reference: April 2025 | Issue 4 | Vol 11 | Page 36
Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre and the Irish Cancer Society has launched a first-of-its-kind pilot initiative for earlier diagnosis of lung cancer. Lung Health Check will provide lung screening in the community for individuals between 55 and 74 years of age at high risk of lung cancer.
The initiative, supported by the EU4Health SOLACE consortium and the Department of Health’s Women’s Health Fund, will invite high-risk individuals in selected GP practices, beginning with the Centric Health network in North Dublin and the North-East region, to attend a lung health check at a mobile scanning unit. This service, operated by Alliance Medical Diagnostic Imaging, will be based in local GAA clubs, including Croke Park, bringing convenient screening to community locations for those invited.
The project is part of the €4.9 million Beaumont RCSI Irish Cancer Society Lung Outreach Programme, the largest single investment in lung cancer in Ireland’s history. The six-year outreach programme is focusing on lung health checks, diagnostics, and treatment innovations, and is led by Consultant Medical Oncologist, Prof Jarushka Naidoo.
Prof Daniel Ryan, Respiratory Consultant at the Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre and Clinical Lead of the Lung Health Check Pilot, said: “Having a mobile lung health check in the community is a major step forward for lung cancer care in Ireland, and we are proud to be leading this work.
“This pilot is breaking down barriers that have long stood in the way of early detection of lung cancer, bringing together partners across the healthcare system. The support from the Irish Cancer Society, and our collaboration with Centric Health GP practices, Alliance Medical Diagnostic Imaging, and the GAA clubs in the region will ultimately save lives.”
Speaking ahead of the launch of Lung Health Check, Averil Power, CEO of the Irish Cancer Society, said: “Lung cancer is Ireland’s biggest cancer killer, mainly because it is diagnosed later when it is difficult to treat. This historic investment by the Irish Cancer Society marks a turning point for lung cancer in Ireland. It is the largest single investment in lung cancer in Ireland’s history and is only possible thanks to the incredible generosity of the Irish public through their support of days like Daffodil Day.
“We are confident this pilot programme will save lives by detecting cancer early and we are hopeful that it will lead to a free national lung health check programme for everyone in Ireland at high risk of lung cancer.
“We’re also delighted that this partnership will integrate Irish Cancer Society services within the care pathways in Beaumont Hospital. This will make it easier for patients to access our free advice, counselling, peer support, hospital transport and other services, and provide a model for other hospitals to follow.”
The first invitations for the Lung Health Check project will be sent to patients by the select GP practices in the coming months, with the first participants expected to undergo screening by early summer. The pilot will focus on high-risk individuals, particularly current or former smokers, with the aim of assessing the impact of community-based lung health screening in Ireland.
In Ireland, around 60 per cent of people diagnosed with lung cancer are detected at a later stage, when treatment options are more limited. Introducing lung health checks for high-risk individuals using low-dose CT scans has been shown to reduce lung cancer mortality by at least 20 per cent. International evidence has found that the vast majority (80%) of patients diagnosed through similar programmes have early stage lung cancer, when treatment is most effective and offers the best chance of cure.
