The Taipei Department of Health yesterday said it would offer free biennial low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for lung cancer to 1,000 police officers and firefighters aged 40 or older.
Lung cancer has been the leading cause of death in Taiwan for several years, and it was the most common type of cancer last year, Health Promotion Administration (HPA) data showed.
Among the 10 most common cancers in Taiwan, lung cancer has the lowest five-year survival rates, National Taiwan University Hospital Cancer Center deputy superintendent Hsu Hsao-hsun (徐紹勛) said.
Photo: Chang Tsung-chiu, Taipei Times
The five-year survival rates of lung cancer from stages 1 to 4 are 88.7 percent, 52.8 percent, 26.7 percent and 9.1 percent respectively, he said, adding that early-stage lung cancer often has no symptoms, so it is often diagnosed at a later stage.
The earlier lung cancer is detected, the higher the chance it can be cured with proper treatment, Hsu said, adding that LDCT scans are capable of detecting pulmonary nodules of 1cm or smaller, allowing people to get treatment earlier.
Department Health Promotion Division Director-General Lin Hsueh-lan (林雪蘭) said that the HPA provides a free biennial LDCT scan to men aged 45 or older and women aged 40 or older who have a family history of lung cancer and are heavy smokers.
The city government also allocated NT$40 million (US$1.21 million) this year to provide free LDCT scans to police officers and firefighters working in the city, she said.
Risk factors are not limited to smoking, cooking fumes or family history, as air pollution and workplace exposure also increase risk, Lin said, adding that police officers and firefighters often work in high-risk environments that expose them to harmful gases.
The department said that 1,000 slots would be provided each year, and eligible recipients can book an appointment with five main branches of the Taipei City Hospital for the free LDCT scan with their National Health Insurance card and service badge.
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