07/02/2026
A reminder of how powerful early screening can be for detecting cancer.
Marissa's scan picked up early-stage lung cancer. Because it was caught early, she was able to receive treatment and make a full recovery.
Marissa is sharing her story to encourage our mob not to wait until you feel unwell. Lung cancer doesnโt always show symptoms early, and screening can truly save lives.
If youโre Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, aged 50 years and over, with a history of smoking and no current symptoms, you may be eligible for a free low-dose CT lung scan through the Australian Lung Cancer Screening Trial.
Looking after your health is looking after your family, your community, and future generations. We encourage our mob to come in and yarn with our doctors or ask your local Hospital and Health Service about lung cancer screening. Together we can make a difference ๐ค๐โค๏ธ๐๐ค๐
Marissa, a Barada Kabalbara woman and health leader from Central Queensland didnโt think much of it at the time.
After a short hospital stay last year, nurses noticed her blood pressure was high. A follow-up with her GP and a scan she almost didnโt have changed everything.
What doctors found was early-stage lung cancer.
Because it was picked up early, Marissa was able to receive treatment and make a full recovery. She now uses her story to encourage mob to take up lung screening even when you feel โfineโ.
โSymptoms donโt always show until cancer is advanced. Thatโs why early screening makes such a difference.โ
If youโre Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, aged 50 years and over, with a history of smoking and no current symptoms, you may be eligible for a free low-dose CT lung scan through the Australian Lung Cancer Screening Trial.
Taking care of your health isnโt just for you, itโs for your family, your community, and future generations. It may be scary but donโt wait until you feel unwell and itโs too late.
๐ซ Check your eligibility today via the link. https://metronorth.health.qld.gov.au/tpch/australianlungscreentrial