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Western Province to Launch New Cancer Screening Program

British Columbia launches country's first lung cancer screening program

British Columbia has launched the country's first provincewide lung cancer screening program for residents at high risk of getting the disease.

Health Minister Adrian Dix says the program will both save lives and improve their quality.

Screening will be available at 36 centres across B-C using existing C-T scans for those who are between 55 and 74, currently smoking or have previously smoked, and have a smoking history of 20 years or more.

Program director Dr. Stephen Lam says 70 per cent of all cases of lung cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage and the aim is to detect it earlier when treatment is more effective. 

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