When detected early, lung cancer outcomes can significantly improve. Preventive screening gives individuals the best chance of catching lung cancer before symptoms appear. In this article, we explore how early detection through screening can protect your lungs and potentially save your life, especially if you're at higher risk due to age, smoking history, or other factors.
What is lung cancer, and why is early detection critical?
Lung cancer is a malignant growth that starts in lung tissues, usually the airways or lung tissue itself, and is one of the most common and deadly cancers worldwide1. Early detection is critical because lung cancer is often diagnosed at a late stage when symptoms appear and effective treatment options are limited, whereas early identification dramatically improves survival odds and treatment success.
Lung Cancer Symptoms Often Appear Late
Most people with early-stage lung cancer experience no or very few symptoms because the tumours are typically small, localised, and do not significantly disrupt lung function2. The lung tissue itself is relatively insensitive: small tumours frequently grow without causing noticeable coughing, pain, breathlessness, or other signs. These symptoms usually emerge only after the cancer becomes larger, obstructs airways, or spreads to lymph nodes and other organs.
Because of this, routine screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) is critically important, especially for those at higher risk. Screening is the best opportunity to find lung cancer at stages when interventions are most effective, rather than waiting for symptoms that might never appear until the disease is more difficult to treat.
How Early Detection Improves Outcomes
Early detection of lung cancer dramatically improves outcomes. The 5-year survival rate for lung cancers caught at Stage 1 is almost 65 per cent3. For cancers caught later, this can drop to ~15 per cent (Stage 3) or 5 per cent (Stage 4).
Who is Most At Risk?
The primary risk factors for lung cancer include4:
- Smoking (both current and former)
- Family history of lung cancer
- Lung diseases
- Exposure to radon gas, asbestos, or other carcinogens
How Does Lung Cancer Screening Work?
LDCT is a specialised scan that uses a significantly lower amount of radiation than a standard CT. It has become the preferred screening tool because it detects lung cancer earlier and more reliably than chest X-rays, reducing mortality by about 20 per cent compared to X-rays in large trials5. The scan is quick (just a few minutes), painless, and non-invasive, making it suitable for regular use in at-risk populations.
What Does LDCT Detect?
Radiologists use LDCT to search for lung nodules, small growths, masses, or subtle abnormalities in the size, shape, or location of lung tissue6. Because of its high sensitivity, false positives are a possibility with this technique. To minimise unnecessary procedures, guidelines recommend further imaging (such as repeated scans) or a specific diagnostic workup before considering invasive procedures. This will ensure that only nodules of specific concern are biopsied or removed.
Across major trials:
- Roughly 1-2.5 per cent of all screened individuals are diagnosed with lung cancer in the first screening round7–9.
- Over 55-85 per cent of cancers found through LDCT screening are Stage I or II, significantly higher than with symptom-based diagnosis8,10,11.
- The false positive rate for LDCT screening ranges from 7-24 per cent, depending on the criteria and population, and declines after the initial round of screening6,7,12,13.
- Modern nodule-management protocols (like Lung RADS), leads to fewer than 2 per cent of patients undergoing an invasive diagnostic procedure as a result of a false positive7,14.
Ezra’s Screening Process
Ezra offers comprehensive, multi-region imaging, often in a single session, using advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, with the option to add on an LDCT scan specifically for screening for potential abnormalities in the lung.
The Lungs CT Scan costs only £249 and takes three minutes to screen for lung cancer, pulmonary nodules, emphysema, and other abnormalities.
Ezra leverages AI-assisted image interpretation to enhance scan quality and speed analysis, which helps radiologists detect subtle abnormalities more reliably and consistently. The turnaround for results is notably fast: most patients receive a detailed, user-friendly Ezra Report curated by both AI and expert radiologists, within 7-10 days. AI tools also help reduce radiologist reading times and streamline follow-up recommendations, enabling a faster, more actionable experience.
Should You Get Screened? Understanding the Criteria
Current UK recommendations for lung cancer screening target adults aged 55-74 who are current or former smokers, using criteria such as smoking history and pack-years to identify those at highest risk15.
Eligible individuals are typically invited for a Lung Health check, which is a risk assessment by phone or in person, followed by an LDCT scan if their risk profile warrants further investigation16. Guidelines are evolving, with the government committing to national screening rollout and coverage for all high-risk individuals by 2030, in response to new evidence supporting earlier and broader screening17.
Risk Tools and Consultations
You can check your cancer risk through Ezra. Tools like this and those from the NHS are a helpful starting point for understanding your risk and eligibility for screening, but results should always be discussed with a GP or healthcare provider for interpretation and personalised advice. Professional consultations ensure an appropriate screening schedule and follow-up, tailored to each person’s health history and risk profile.
Summary: Protecting Your Lungs Through Preventive Screening
Early detection is the most powerful tool for improving lung cancer outcomes. Screening, especially with low-dose CT scans for those at risk, can find lung cancer at an early, more treatable stage, compared to those diagnosed late. Knowing your risk factors and taking proactive steps to get screened can help save your life or the life of someone you love.
Be proactive about your health and book an LDCT scan to screen for lung cancer, pulmonary nodules, emphysema, and more with Ezra today.
Understand your risk for cancer with our 5 minute quiz.
Our scan is designed to detect potential cancer early.
References
1. Thandra KC, Barsouk A, Saginala K, Aluru JS, Barsouk A. Epidemiology of lung cancer. Contemp Oncol (Pozn). 2021;25(1):45-52. doi:10.5114/wo.2021.103829
2. Takashima S, Maruyama Y, Hasegawa M, et al. CT findings and progression of small peripheral lung neoplasms having a replacement growth pattern. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2003;180(3):817-826. doi:10.2214/ajr.180.3.1800817
3. Survival for lung cancer. Accessed November 10, 2025. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/lung-cancer/survival
4. Lung cancer. World Cancer Research Fund. Accessed November 12, 2025. https://www.wcrf.org/preventing-cancer/cancer-types/lung-cancer/
5. Dajac J, Kamdar J, Moats A, Nguyen B. To Screen or not to Screen: Low Dose Computed Tomography in Comparison to Chest Radiography or Usual Care in Reducing Morbidity and Mortality from Lung Cancer. Cureus. 8(4):e589. doi:10.7759/cureus.589
6. Jonas DE, Reuland DS, Reddy SM, et al. Screening for Lung Cancer With Low-Dose Computed Tomography: Updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. JAMA. 2021;325(10):971-987. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.0377
7. Teles GB da S, Macedo ACS, Chate RC, Valente VAT, Funari MB de G, Szarf G. LDCT lung cancer screening in populations at different risk for lung cancer. BMJ Open Resp Res. 2020;7(1). doi:10.1136/bmjresp-2019-000455
8. Martel S, Lizotte H, Boily G, et al. EP.04A.04 Real-World Data of LDCT Lung Cancer Screening Implementation in a Public Healthcare System: Quebec Three 3-Year Experience. Journal of Thoracic Oncology. 2024;19(10, Supplement):S460-S461. doi:10.1016/j.jtho.2024.09.843
9. Ruparel M, Quaife SL, Navani N, Wardle J, Janes SM, Baldwin DR. Pulmonary nodules and CT screening: the past, present and future. Thorax. 2016;71(4):367-375. doi:10.1136/thoraxjnl-2015-208107
10. Qian F, Yang W, Chen Q, Zhang X, Han B. Screening for early stage lung cancer and its correlation with lung nodule detection. Journal of Thoracic Disease. 2018;10(Suppl 7). doi:10.21037/jtd.2017.12.123
11. Osarogiagbon RU, Liao W, Faris NR, et al. Lung Cancer Diagnosed Through Screening, Lung Nodule, and Neither Program: A Prospective Observational Study of the Detecting Early Lung Cancer (DELUGE) in the Mississippi Delta Cohort. J Clin Oncol. 2022;40(19):2094-2105. doi:10.1200/JCO.21.02496
12. Association AL. What to Expect from a Lung Cancer Screening | Saved By The Scan. Accessed November 12, 2025. https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lung-cancer/screening-resources/what-to-expect-from-lung-cancer-screening
13. Sow MKS, Howlett J, Bell R, Odell D, Ekeke CN. A narrative review of lung cancer screening: from adoption to maturity. AME Surgical Journal. 2024;4:1-8.
14. Hammer MM, Byrne SC, Kong CY. Factors Influencing the False Positive Rate in CT Lung Cancer Screening. Academic Radiology. 2022;29:S18-S22. doi:10.1016/j.acra.2020.07.040
15. Lung cancer screening. nhs.uk. March 27, 2023. Accessed November 12, 2025. https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/lung-cancer-screening/
16. Lung Cancer Screening | North East London Cancer Alliance. Accessed November 12, 2025. https://www.nelcanceralliance.nhs.uk/lung-cancer-screening
17. Gunn T. Lung cancer screening could save thousands of lives in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Cancer Research UK - Cancer News. December 5, 2023. Accessed November 12, 2025. https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2023/12/05/lung-cancer-screening-scotland-wales-northern-ireland-early-lung-cancer-diagnosis/
