Saskatchewan has officially designated November as Lung Cancer Awareness Month, joining provinces across Canada in raising awareness about the disease. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the province, with mortality rates higher than breast, colorectal and prostate cancers combined. Each year, roughly 860 people in Saskatchewan are diagnosed with the disease.
Although anyone can develop lung cancer, it remains one of the most stigmatized cancers due to its association with smoking. Smoking is the primary risk factor, but other contributors include exposure to radon, hazardous chemicals, genetic factors and air pollution.
“We are joining with other provinces to end the stigma around lung cancer and empower the people affected by the disease to share their knowledge, hope and healing within their communities,” Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said. “We are grateful for our health care teams and program coordinators. They deliver vital diagnostics and essential resources that drive research and enhance treatment outcomes for patients both in our province and throughout Canada.”
The province launched a new lung cancer screening pilot program called LungCheck in Swift Current this past July. The program targets high-risk adults aged 50 to 74 who show no symptoms and offers education, smoking cessation support, and Low-Dose Computed Tomography (LDCT) scans for early detection.
To date, 54 patient referrals have been made, with 24 assessed and deemed eligible for screening. Eleven participants have engaged in supports for quitting smoking. Plans are in place to expand the program to additional Saskatchewan locations.
“We are pleased to see the results from our early implementation of LungCheck in collaboration with the Associate Family Physicians clinic in Swift Current,” said Karen Efthimiou, Vice President of Quality and Research, Population Health, at the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency. “Evaluating this progress and hearing feedback from clients and providers will help to put us in a great position to expand the program over time.”
Saskatchewan residents experiencing symptoms such as a persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, or coughing up blood are urged to speak with their health care provider to determine if diagnostic testing is needed.
“As family doctors, we always wish we had more screening programs, which find disease before symptoms are present, at more treatable stage,” said Dr. Janna Cuthbert. “Our team at the Associate Family Physicians Clinic is happy to add real world experience in this early phase of this program.”
Funding for lung cancer screening has been steadily increasing. In 2024-25, $470,000 was allocated to support a lung screening program, with an additional $295,000 provided in the 2025-26 budget to support the provincial Lung Screening Program through the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency and Saskatchewan Health Authority.