What is the current situation in your country, in terms of lung cancer screening?
In Hungary, lung screening/X-ray screening is required by law for people in certain risk groups who are at higher than average risk of tuberculosis infection, such as the homeless, healthcare workers and prison officers. In addition, all persons over 40 years of age are entitled to a free lung screening/X-ray screening once a year, for screening purposes. The screening programmes diagnose 10,000 new lung cancer patients every year.
What do you hope to achieve with SOLACE and what your message would be to other countries?
Today, lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer, but early detection can significantly improve survival rates. However, X-rays are not suitable for detecting very small, early-stage lung cancer because of their resolution, and they cannot detect lesions of a few millimetres. Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) can be an effective method of screening and timely detection of lung cancer, which can reduce lung cancer deaths.
What is your role and contribution to the project?
Our institution aims to carry out an examination of 1,000 people, including LDCT screening and biological sample collection, in cooperation with the Opre Roma Association, who will recruit the target group members from the Roma community. CT scans are evaluated with the help of a radiologist and an artificial intelligence-based Aidence Veye MI software. The long-term effectiveness of the cancer screening program will be assessed by following up patients with positive screening results and by assessing changes in their smoking habits.
Why SOLACE is important to you?
Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scans under the SOLACE programme can significantly reduce mortality through early screening of disadvantaged patients at risk. In addition, SOLACE allows us to reach patients who have little or no access to traditional lung screening/X-ray screening programmes.
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.
