Source date: 2026-06-14
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Early lung cancer screening program rolled out in select regions Published on June 15, 2026 - Service Public / Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister's Office)
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in France and worldwide. When the disease is detected at an early stage, before symptoms appear, the chances of recovery increase significantly. A screening program for this cancer is currently being deployed in 5 regions, with potential nationwide implementation to follow.
The Impulsion lung cancer screening program (IMPlémentation du dépistage du cancer PULmonaire en populatION) provides:
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100% coverage by Health Insurance for scans aimed at detecting possible lung cancer (the screening program relies on 2 low-dose thoracic CT scans performed one year apart, followed by such a scan every 2 years);
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smoking cessation support consultations offered to program participants.
If the result of one of the screening scans is positive, additional tests are conducted to confirm the presence of lung cancer. When cancer is diagnosed following these in-depth examinations, the patient is referred to a specialized thoracic oncology team for therapeutic care, including psychological support.
The Impulsion program was recently launched in the following 5 regions:
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Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes;
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Pays de la Loire;
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Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.
The Haute Autorité de Santé encouraged, in a statement published in 2022, the establishment of pilot projects to assess the feasibility of a large-scale lung cancer screening program. Indeed, the earlier lung cancer is detected, the higher the chances of recovery. However, this disease is often detected at an advanced stage, when therapeutic options are more limited.
The objectives of the Impulsion program are therefore:
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to increase the number of early diagnoses of lung cancer;
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and to determine the conditions for implementing a future national screening program for this cancer.
What are the criteria for joining the screening program?
You can join the lung cancer screening program if you meet the following conditions:
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be aged between 50 and 74;
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be a current smoker, or a former smoker who quit less than 15 years ago;
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smoke or have smoked an average of at least 2 packs of cigarettes per day for 10 years, or 1 pack of cigarettes per day for 20 years (a multiplier coefficient applies if you smoke or have smoked roll-your-own cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, pipes, or hookah). To assess your tobacco consumption, you can seek help from a healthcare professional; by calling 34 33, the national helpline for the Impulsion program; or by visiting the website depistage-cancer-poumon.fr.
These various criteria help identify individuals who would benefit most from screening, i.e., those with numerous risk factors for developing the disease. For example, starting at age 50, the likelihood of developing lung cancer begins to increase significantly if you smoke or have smoked heavily.
You cannot join this program if, among other reasons:
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you present symptoms suggestive of possible lung cancer (unexplained weight loss, recent onset of respiratory symptoms, etc.);
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you have severe comorbidities that prevent diagnostic and therapeutic management (such as surgery or radiotherapy) of lung cancer;
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you have undergone a thoracic CT scan recently (less than 12 months ago).
How to participate in the lung cancer screening program?
If you wish to participate in the Impulsion lung cancer screening program, you must either:
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contact the program's call center by dialing 34 33 (local call rate), or fill out the online form available on the Impulsion - lung cancer screening website to verify your eligibility (if your eligibility is confirmed, you will gain access to a list of "investigator" doctors to make an appointment to finalize your enrollment in the program);
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consult directly with an "investigator" doctor, who will verify your eligibility and finalize your enrollment in the program if applicable (you can find an "investigator" doctor via the directory available on the depistage-cancer-poumon.fr website).
See also
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Health Check-up - Preventive Health Examination (EPS) Service Public
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Cancer: Adapted physical activity sessions covered in certain regions Service Public
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Impulsion: The pilot program for lung cancer screening National Health Insurance Fund (Cnam)
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Lung cancer screening National Health Insurance Fund (Cnam)
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Source: Service-Public particuliers