Friday, October 30, 2026

Germany’s Bundesverband Selbsthilfe Lungenkrebs e.V. is using Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November to draw attention to a new early detection option for people at elevated risk. Since April 2026, low-dose CT screening has been reimbursed by statutory health insurance under defined conditions. The association’s campaign, “DU BIST AM ZUG!”, combines awareness motifs with a digital eligibility check for people who may not yet know whether the service is relevant to them.

Eligibility depends on age and smoking history

The screening offer is aimed at people covered by statutory health insurance who are between 50 and 75 years old and currently smoke or previously smoked heavily. The criteria cited include 25 years of cigarette consumption and at least 15 pack-years, for example 30 years with an average of half a pack of cigarettes per day.

A medical consultation comes before any possible low-dose computed tomography scan. During that consultation, the individual criteria are reviewed and, where appropriate, a referral is issued. The aim is to detect lung cancer before symptoms appear. Evidence from studies indicates that regular participation can reduce lung cancer mortality, while the campaign also provides information on the procedure, potential benefits and risks.

Low-threshold messaging for a sensitive topic

The association is positioning the campaign with humorous, everyday motifs and a non-judgmental tone. That framing addresses barriers such as fear of a diagnosis, shame and concerns about stigma related to smoking history. Prof. Dr. Torsten Bauer, chief physician at Lungenklinik Heckeshorn in Berlin and former president of the German Society for Pneumology and Respiratory Medicine, supports communication that informs and encourages without blame.

The free check on dubistamzug-screening.com provides initial guidance but does not replace assessment by a physician. For healthcare communicators, the initiative illustrates a practical challenge: reimbursement alone does not ensure that eligible groups understand, trust or use a preventive service. Targeted information, simple digital entry points and stigma-sensitive language are central to making such offers visible.