The United Kingdom is taking steps towards developing a nationwide lung cancer screening program. This government backed program is being led by Liverpool University researchers, they are hoping to test potential patients with virtual CT scans in order to detect lung cancer at it's early more treatable stages. The Liverpool researchers said to BBC News,
"Lung cancer kills 33,500 people a year in the UK and a screening trial of thousands of individuals is "urgently" needed to save lives, say researchers. Around a 100 people a day are diagnosed with the condition but many already have late stage disease and have little chance of survival."
These screenings will be done on patients who are at high risk of developing lung cancer a few years down the road. Which is why the physicians are hoping early detection CT scans can help prevent lung cancer related deaths.
