France Tests Lung Cancer Screening Program

In France, doctors are now testing low-dose CT scans to detect lung cancer early. The program, called Impulsion, began this year and will run for five years across five regions: Île-de-France, Hauts-de-France, Pays de la Loire, Paca, and Auvergne Rhône-Alpes. It aims to identify tumors before symptoms appear, improving patient outcomes.

Previous studies in the United States, Belgium, and the Netherlands showed that screening could reduce lung cancer mortality by 20 to 33 percent in high-risk individuals. A recent British program screening 2.5 million people diagnosed 7,193 cancers, with three-quarters found at operable stages.

To participate, individuals must be between 50 and 74 years old, have a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years, and currently smoke or have quit within the last 15 years. Though the program intends to reach vulnerable populations, achieving sufficient participation rates remains a challenge. Researchers anticipate about 2% of the 20,000 scans will reveal something requiring further investigation.