Poster Presentation 2025 Joint Meeting of the COSA ASM and IPOS Congress

Australia's National Lung Cancer Screening Program - it's time to address the stigma in room   (126440)

Shiho Rose 1 , Kathleen McFadden 1 , Nathan Harrison 2 3 4 , Rachael Dodd 1 5 , Shakira Onwuka 6 , Christine Paul 7 8 , Lisa Carter-Bawa 9 10 , Mark Brooke 11 , Marianne Weber 12
  1. The Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, a joint venture with the Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, Australia
  2. Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
  3. NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence on Achieving the Tobacco Endgame, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia
  4. National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA), Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
  5. Sydney Health Literacy Lab, Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
  6. Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
  7. School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
  8. Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW, Australia
  9. Center for Discovery and Innovation at Hackensack Meridian Health, Cancer Prevention Precision Control Institute, Nutley, New Jersey, USA
  10. Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
  11. Lung Foundation Australia, Milton, QLD, Australia
  12. Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia

The National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP) is commencing in Australia in July 2025. This significant public health initiative will maximise earlier detection of lung cancer and improve outcomes for many Australians. However, the adoption of a screening program for a disease that is stigmatised, given the known links between tobacco smoking and lung cancer, creates barriers for participation. There is a need to challenge public rhetoric around smoking being a “choice” and the importance of dialogue that is free of judgement and blame towards individuals.

As we are approaching the initiation of the NLCSP, we have a unique but time-critical opportunity to lead the change we need to address the stigma seen in lung cancer and smoking. This presentation will explore initiatives that have been implemented to reduce public stigma, with focus towards those within the context of lung cancer screening. In exploring this, real world examples, both national and internationally, with be described and discussed. This includes mass media campaigns (e.g., "Stop asking the Wrong Question" by Lung Foundation Australia), consortia (e.g., The American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable) and communication guides (e.g., International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer). Key considerations will be highlighted to normalise lung cancer screening as standard health practice for people, regardless of their smoking history, and the importance of encouraging participation to facilitate the success of the NLCSP - the stigma must end.