Did you know lung cancer is the world’s deadliest cancer? A big reason for that is that it’s often detected too late. 

People with early-stage lung cancer can go about their daily lives symptom-free. But what if we could save more lives by spotting and treating it earlier?

At Macquarie University, doctors and researchers are exploring ways to revolutionise early detection, using robotics and advanced imaging. 

From pinpointing tiny cancerous nodules to improving diagnostic accuracy, their work is pushing the boundaries of medical technology.

Today, we’ll unpack how this groundbreaking research works and what it could mean for the future of medicine. 

The numbers around lung cancer paint a sobering picture. While it's the fifth most common cancer diagnosed in Australia, with around 15,000 new cases annually, it has the worst mortality rate among common cancers.

"If you had a diagnosis of lung cancer in the year 2020, your five-year survival would be about 25% chance," Associate Professor of Medicine at Macquarie University Hospital, Dr Tajalli Saghaie – aka Dr. Taj – told TDA.

The fourth most common cancer, colorectal cancer, has a 71% five-year survival rate. The startling gap between these two rates tells a troubling story. 

"More people die from lung cancer than any other cancer," Dr. Taj said. 

The reason why?

"Because we find it late."

For decades, lung cancer has been the ‘odd one out’ among major cancers. 

Skin cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer all have established screening programs that allow doctors to detect the disease before symptoms appear.

Screening for lung cancer is especially critical because the disease operates differently from other cancers. 

"Lung cancers are not symptomatic until they have actually gone to later stages, and by the time a patient comes to someone like me or their GP with any symptom related to their lung cancer, it's very likely that it's already too late," Dr. Taj explained.

The good news? Australia launched its lung cancer screening program in July 2025, following evidence from international studies showing screening can improve survival rates by 20-25%.

While screening programs can identify suspicious nodules, the next crucial step is determining whether those nodules are actually cancerous. This is where Macquarie University’s pioneering work comes in.

Traditional lung biopsies involve inserting a needle through the chest wall, but this approach has limitations when it comes to access and risk.

Enter robotic bronchoscopy: A technology that Dr. Taj and his team have been testing for the past two years. 

Instead of going through the chest, this approach sends a camera through the airways to reach suspicious areas from inside the lungs.

"When you do it with a bronchoscope, from inside, that risk drops down to about 1%. Accuracy is higher. You have access to everywhere in the lungs," Dr. Taj told TDA.

The Macquarie team conducted Australia’s first human study of new-generation robotic bronchoscopy in November 2022, and the results have been impressive.

The technology makes the diagnostic process "safe and accurate" while also being significantly faster than traditional methods.

The program’s integrated approach has delivered remarkable results so far. 

Dr. Taj described how streamlined clinical pathways now connect radiologists, pathologists, respiratory physicians, surgeons, and oncologists as part of the same team.

He recently treated a lung cancer patient who was referred to the clinic through the new national screening program. 

"From referral to the patient leaving hospital after the cancer was removed, [the process] was 10 days," he said.

This pace isn't just impressive, it's potentially life-saving. The faster doctors can diagnose and treat early-stage lung cancer, the better the patient’s chances of survival.

The same robotic systems that can precisely biopsy tiny nodules could also deliver treatment directly to them. It unlocks a world of exciting possibilities for future applications of this breakthrough technology. 

"In a few years time, a 75-year-old could walk in, go to sleep and have a robotic bronchoscopy done, biopsy their cancer, burn it, walk out within a few hours, and not have to worry about it again," Dr. Taj said. 

This represents a fundamental shift from current lung cancer treatment options, which typically involve major surgery, systemic treatments, and radiotherapy – all of which come with significant costs and complications.

While Macquarie University's program is showing promising results, Dr. Taj acknowledges that one hospital can't transform outcomes across Australia's entire health system. The focus now is on sharing knowledge and training other medical professionals.

The team has conducted workshops and masterclasses, including Australia's first robotic bronchoscopy masterclass, which brought together bronchoscopists from every Australian state for hands-on training.

Multiply your future with Macquarie University

The future of health is happening right here on campus, where Macquarie University is leading the way in the early detection and treatment of Australia’s deadliest cancers.

So, if you want a career that actually makes a difference, Macquarie can set you up for success with Sydney’s top-rated teachers, industry connections that can kickstart your career, global businesses on campus, and a community built to help you go further.

Whether your dream is breathing new life into life-saving research, exploring the mysteries of the cosmos, or designing greener, smarter cities, Macquarie helps you turn big ideas into real-world impact.

Find out how you could multiply your potential at mq.edu.au/study 

That’s YOU. To the power of us.

"What we have been focusing on is gathering data, sharing that with everybody, and publishing that," Dr. Taj said. "We are also trying to teach what we have found as well."

Advanced diagnostic robotics represents a potential turning point in the fight against the nation's deadliest cancer.

“Macquarie University and the clinical trials unit have a very unique environment that facilitates these kinds of trials… and we were lucky enough to be involved in the new generation of robotic bronchoscopy trial.” 

An estimated 70-80% of nodules can be accessed by a traditional lung biopsy (through the chest). This procedure also carries a 20-25% risk of lung puncture. 

A combination of the latest technology and the best minds in medicine “ improves our access to almost 100% of whatever nodules need a biopsy,” Dr. Taj said.

The value of robotics is “in strengthening the diagnostic step” to conduct safer, faster, and more accurate screenings.

For the first time, there's a realistic prospect of catching lung cancer early enough to make a difference and having the technology to diagnose and treat it with minimal invasiveness.

While it’s early days, the results so far suggest experts like Dr. Taj and the team at Macquarie University are at the forefront of a major national transformation.

As Dr. Taj put it: "I think we have accepted surgery as the gold standard. However, when you actually look at it, it is very costly, and it has a lot of morbidities and complications. I am sure there are better ways to do it."

The robotic revolution in lung cancer detection and treatment may be the solution.