Urgences QC
Check the costEvery year
Lung scan
Low-dose CT scan of the lungs
If you smoke or smoked for 20+ years
How to get it
1
If you have a family doctor or nurse practitioner, they can send a request to the coordination centre for your region to check whether you’re eligible.
2
You can also contact the centre directly, whether or not you have a family doctor: 1-877-418-7346 for Lanaudière, 1-450-978-2129 for Laval and 1-844-656-4312 for the rest of Quebec.
3
The staff will ask you questions about your smoking and your general health. If you smoke, they can also put you in touch with services to help you quit.
4
If screening is right for you, they send a request to the closest facility, and its imaging department calls you with an appointment and instructions. Any travel costs are your responsibility.
5
Arrive 15 minutes early and bring your health insurance card, plus your hospital card if the facility asks for it. The result comes a few weeks after the scan.
What to say
“Hello, I’m calling about lung cancer screening. I’ve smoked for many years and would like to know if I can be screened.
What it’s like
The scan is a low-dose CT. You lie on the table with your arms above your head and the table slides into the short cylinder of the machine. You need to stay still and hold your breath for a few seconds. It’s painless, takes less than five minutes and doesn’t involve any injection.
The details
Who it’s for
Every year for people aged 55 to 74 who have smoked for at least 20 years, whether they still smoke or have quit (not necessarily in a row); a coordination centre checks your risk before you are accepted.
Cost
Not stated on the official page; travel costs, if any, are yours