What is the current situation in your country, in terms of lung cancer screening?
A pilot population-based early lung cancer screening programme has been launched in the Czech Republic from January 2022 for people aged 55-74, including smokers and ex-smokers who smoke 20 packs a year. This programme involves active outreach to those at risk by GPs and pulmonologists. From 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2024, a total of 22,623 people have been approached, with 9,662 undergoing their first low dose CT (LDCT). The trend of people engaging with the programme is increasing, indicating a growing awareness of lung cancer prevention. Thirty-six per cent of general practitioner facilities and 98 per cent of pulmonology facilities participated in the programme.
What do you hope to achieve with SOLACE and what your message would be to other countries?
I hope that with the SOLACE project we will be able to strengthen the system of early detection of lung cancer and raise public awareness of the importance of prevention. I would like other countries to see SOLACE as an inspiration for developing their own screening programmes. Our common goal should be to reduce the number of deaths through early diagnosis and effective treatment.
What is your role and contribution to the project?
Within the national programme, I am the Expert Guarantor of the Early Detection of Lung Cancer Programme and the Chairman of the Commission for the preparation of the Early Detection of Lung Cancer Programme. My role is to provide expert advice and support the development of educational materials for the public. My main contribution is to ensure that this information is understandable and accessible, even to those without a medical background. I want people to have easy access to important information about screening and prevention. I am the Lead Representatives WP6 SOLACE project and I see the benefit in targeting the higher risk population.
Why SOLACE is important to you?
The SOLACE project is of great importance to me because it shows usefulness and importance of our efforts to set and develop the Czech LCS programme. Now it helps to improve and optimise lung cancer screening at European level. The aim is to provide EU Member States with advanced tools for effective detection of this serious disease. SOLACE is working to create a flexible and adaptable system that will allow each country to implement screening to suit its specific needs and conditions.
SOLACE provides an opportunity to contribute to the development of individualised approaches to lung cancer prevention that can be applied both nationally and globally. Thanks to funding from the EU4Health programme, we have the chance to develop a set of tools that will simplify and streamline the whole screening process. This work motivates me because I believe that SOLACE can truly change the future of lung cancer prevention and save many lives.
This project is co-funded under the EU4Health Programme 2021–2027 under grant agreement no. 101101187. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
