Lung cancer is a major public health problem in Brazil. According to GLOBOCAN estimates by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, there were 44,213 new cases and 38,292 deaths from lung cancer in the country in 2022. The disease causes high morbidity and mortality. It reduces the quality of life, leads to loss of productivity and has a low survival rate. Lung cancer represents a high cost for the Brazilian public health system SUS. The authors emphasize the urgent need for a national lung cancer screening program.