In Wales, smokers and former smokers aged 55 to 74 will be offered lung cancer screening.

Welsh Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Miles has announced the launch of a national lung cancer screening program, targeting smokers and ex-smokers most at risk. This will be the fourth population-based cancer screening program in Wales. The first screenings are expected to begin in 2027, with development of the program commencing immediately.[1].

National lung cancer screening program launched

This program is based on recommendations from the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) and successful pilot projects, particularly in the North Rhondda Valley. It will target people aged 55 to 74 identified as being at high risk of lung cancer—current or former smokers—and will include support for quitting smoking. Priority will be given to older people in this age group.

Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in Wales, but remains by far the leading cause of cancer death. The majority of cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, when they are rarely curable. Early detection is therefore essential to improve survival.

In 2022, around 340,000 people in Wales, or 14.1% of the total population, smoked cigarettes, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).[2]More than 43,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer each year in the UK, which primarily affects older people, and smoking is the leading cause. While the 70-74 age group typically has the highest rate of lung cancer diagnosis, the majority of cases occur in people aged 55-79, with a particularly high incidence in people over 60.

People with this condition experience a persistent cough, coughing up blood, persistent shortness of breath, unexplained fatigue, weight loss, and discomfort or pain when breathing or coughing. The current prognosis for survival beyond 5 years for this type of cancer remains particularly poor.

Gradual implementation and financing of the system

The program will be implemented in three phases to enable the Welsh NHS to increase its scan reading and results tracking capabilities. Jeremy Miles announced initial funding of £2.3 million (approximately €2.68 million) for 2025-2026, intended to expand the current team and launch the first phases of the project. Once fully operational, the program is expected to cost approximately £13 million per year (approximately €15.1 million).

Heather Lewis, Public Health Wales's medical officer, welcomed the Welsh Government's decision: " Screening can detect lung cancer at an early stage, when it is easier to treat. This will save lives. ".

The pilot project in the North Rhondda, in partnership with the Cancer Network and Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, carried out 600 scans, leading to the detection of 12 lung cancers, two-thirds of which were at an early stage.

Strengthened prevention and fight against health inequalities

Lung cancer does not affect all populations equally: mortality rates are two and a half times higher in the most deprived areas of Wales. The results of the pilot project in Rhondda, an area particularly affected by smoking and lung cancer incidence, highlight the potential impact of screening in reducing inequalities.

Heather Lewis added that " Screening is a concrete action to reduce the disparity in cancer mortality in Wales. It illustrates our transition to a more preventative healthcare system. ".

The program will also include a smoking cessation service; smoking is by far the leading cause of lung cancer. The funding will support the expansion of the Help Me Quit service to support eligible individuals well before screening begins. Public Health Wales will be tasked with implementing the best strategies to scale up screening and smoking cessation support together.

However, the extent of lung cancer screening must also be put into perspective with other cost-effective prevention methods. A European model combining screening and smoking cessation concluded that smoking cessation alone reduces cancer incidence by 8 to 46 %, while screening only leads to a reduction of 1 to 24 % and remains less effective and cost-effective.[3].

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[1]Nation.cymru, Welsh Government to launch new national lung cancer screening program, published June 28, 2025, accessed July 1, 2025

[2]Griffiths Eleri, Lung cancer screening to be rolled out to smokers, BBC, published June 28, 2025, accessed July 1, 2025

[3]Diaz M., Garcia M., Vidal C., Santiago A., Gnutti G., Gómez D., Trapero-Bertran M., Fu M., Lung Cancer Prevention LUCAPREV research group, Health and economic impact at a population level of both primary and secondary preventive lung cancer interventions: A model-based cost-effectiveness analysis, Lung Cancer, published September 2021, accessed July 1, 2025

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