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France will pilot targeted lung cancer screening starting in March, enrolling 20,000 people aged 50 to 74 who are current or former smokers with a 20+ pack-year history, over 18 to 24 months, as a stepping stone to a generalized program by 2030.

A new national cancer registry was officially established in December to improve understanding, prevention, and treatment across cancers.

The pilot targets individuals 50 to 74 who smoke or quit within 15 years, with a long smoking history, and aims to inform broader rollout criteria.

The plan concentrates on five priority areas—youth, older adults, the workplace, people with disabilities, and overseas territories—with some measures delayed, and begins enrolling patients next month.

Despite some reductions in measures, the strategy maintains five key priorities: youth, the elderly, the workforce, people with disabilities, and overseas territories.

The plan emphasizes five priority areas and will commence enrolling its first patients in the near term as part of the decennial strategy.

Screening uses low-dose chest CT scans taking about 15 minutes, with radiation exposure estimated at roughly six months of natural exposure.

The program responds to higher mortality and late-stage diagnoses among women, partly due to later uptake of risk behaviors like smoking.

The proposed screening would center on lung CT scans, potentially with tailored protocols as part of the nationwide strategy.

Expert Marie-Pierre Revel of Hôpital Cochin notes that the scanner’s additional radiation risk is relatively small compared with natural exposure.

The announcement is the second phase of a ten-year strategy (2020-2030) and will be followed by details from President Macron on implementation and public investment.