Quick Check:
Are You Eligible for
Lung Cancer Screening?
Answer a few quick questions to find out if lung cancer screening may be right for you.
- Your answers are confidential. No personal data is stored.
What is the
PLCOm2012 model?
The PLCOm2012 risk calculator is a validated scientific tool that estimates your risk of developing lung cancer over the next six years based on factors such as age, smoking history, medical history (for example, COPD or prior cancer), and body-size.
It was developed from the large scale PLCO (Prostate, Lung, Colorectal & Ovarian) Cancer Screening Trial, and has been shown to help identify people at higher risk who may benefit from early screening.
At the Lung Health Foundation, we believe every Canadian deserves the best possible information to make informed decisions about their lungs. This calculator gives you an estimate, not a diagnosis.
What is Lung Cancer Screening?
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Canada. This is often because it’s found late, when it has already spread or grown too large for treatment to work well.
Screening helps find cancer early.
It’s a test for people who may be at risk but don’t have any symptoms and feel healthy.
We now have a proven way to screen people at higher risk for lung cancer. Those who qualify are invited for a quick, safe, and painless low-dose CT scan of their lungs. This scan can find small changes before symptoms appear, giving treatment a better chance to work. Early detection through lung cancer screening could save your life.
Is this tool right for you?
This calculator is designed for adults in Canada who:
Are older than 55 years of age
Have smoked cigarettes every day for about 20 years in total, even if there were times when you quit or took a break.
Have no signs of lung cancer (e.g. a cough that won’t go away, coughing up blood, chest pain, trouble breathing, unexplained weight loss, or feeling very tired all the time).
Why it matters and what you can do
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death in Canada. Yet when detected early, outcomes improve significantly. Knowing your risk gives you information — and power — to act. steps are right for you.
What you’ll need to get started
The calculator takes about 2-3 minutes to complete. Having these ready will make the process smoother:
Your height and weight (to calculate BMI), your age, and education level
Your smoking history, including cigarettes per day, years smoked and, if applicable, when you quit.
Have no signs of lung cancer (e.g. a cough that won’t go away, coughing up blood, chest pain, trouble breathing, unexplained weight loss, or feeling very tired all the time).
Disclaimer & privacy
This tool provides an estimate only and is not a medical diagnosis. The Lung Health Foundation does not provide clinical interpretation of results and strongly recommends you consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalized advice. Screening eligibility may vary by province and individual situation.
The Lung Health Foundation will not store or share your responses unless you choose to download or email a copy of your result. All data entered is protected via secure connections. For full policy, see our Privacy & Accessibility page.
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