BC Cancer Lung Screening Program Eligibility Risk Calculator (PLCOm2012) - Evidencio
BC Cancer Lung Screening Program Eligibility Risk Calculator (PLCOm2012)

BC Cancer Lung Screening Program: Background and Eligibility

The BC Cancer Lung Screening Program was launched in 2022 and is available for generally healthy individuals between ages 55 and 74 who are at high risk of developing lung cancer. Health care providers may refer their patients within the age range who have a significant history of regularly smoking commercial tobacco, either currently or in the past. Individuals may also self-refer. Eligibility for lung screening will be determined through a phone assessment with the Program.

The Lung Screening Program is providing the online PLCOm2012 Risk Calculator for health care providers to allow you to review the factors that determine patients’ eligibility, and how different characteristics affect their risk score. This tool is NOT designed to be shared with patients for them to assess their personal eligibility.

Patients are not eligible for lung screening if they:

  • Have ever been diagnosed with lung cancer;

  • Are currently under surveillance for lung nodules;

  • Have major comorbidities such as severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (such as those using home oxygen or who cannot climb two sets of stairs), congestive heart failure, renal failure on dialysis, other cancers on active treatment or follow-up;

  • Are unable to lie flat and hold their arms above their head for a CT scan;

  • Are experiencing symptoms* possibly indicative of lung cancer. These individuals should be referred for appropriate diagnostic investigation and consultation.

    *Symptoms could include: coughing that does not go away or gets worse, coughing blood or rust-coloured sputum, or unexplained weight loss of 15 pounds or more in the past year.

About the PLCOm2012 Risk Calculator

The Lung Screening Program’s risk assessment uses the PLCOm2012 Risk Calculator, which has been validated in Canada and internationally as an advanced method for assessing lung screening eligibility. The use of the PLCOm2012 model is more sensitive than the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) criteria for lung cancer screening.

The PLCOm2012 model incorporates lung cancer risks based on demographic, environmental and clinical risk factors, and can minimize disparities in screening access due to race, sex and socioeconomic status.

Individuals are considered high-risk of developing lung cancer and generally eligible for the Lung Screening Program if their risk of developing lung cancer in the next 6 years is 1.5% or greater, based on the calculator.

How to support your patients with accessing lung screening

To refer your patients who meet the Lung Screening Program’s basic criteria, and are likely eligible:

  1. Fastest option: Encourage your patient to contact the Lung Screening Program at 1-877-717-5864 and the Program will conduct the 5-10 minute risk assessment over the phone. Provide a tear-off slip to the patient with the Program’s phone number. Order more tear-off referral pads at www.screeningbc.ca/order-materials.

  2. For patients who you consider may experience barriers to self-referral (e.g., language barrier, screening hesitancy), complete and fax the Risk Assessment Request Form to 1-604-877-6115. The Lung Screening Program will call the patient to determine screening eligibility.

  3. If your patient cannot be contacted by phone or would need support answering the risk assessment questions, complete the assessment together with the patient and fax the responses to the Lung Screening Program. The Lung Screening Program will review your assessment and facilitate referral for screening if the patient is eligible. Email lungscreeningprogram@bccancer.bc.ca to request a copy of the questionnaire.

For more information, read the Fact Sheet: Assessing Patient Eligibility for Lung Screening.

Research authors: Martin C. Tammemägi, Hormuzd A. Katki, William G. Hocking, Timothy R. Church, Neil Caporaso, Paul A. Kvale, Anil K. Chaturvedi, Gerard A. Silvestri, Tom L. Riley, John Commins, Christine D. Berg
Version: 1.6
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