Smokers and ex-smokers in Brentwood are being invited to take up the free, life-saving NHS Lung Cancer Screening.
Lung cancer screening detects lung cancers and other lung conditions before there are recognisable symptoms. This means people can get treatment for cancer much earlier, improving their longer-term health outcomes and saving lives.
In mid and south Essex, over 160 cancers have been detected via the programme so far, most in the earlier stages.
The NHS Lung Cancer Screening programme offers free checks for smokers and ex-smokers aged between 55 and 74. Brentwood residents who are registered as smokers or ex-smokers on their GP record will be receiving an invitation to join the programme over the coming weeks.
The symptoms of lung cancer are easy to confuse with other conditions or miss altogether. What’s worse is that many people aren’t sure what the symptoms are. Both of these factors contribute to lung cancer often being diagnosed at a later stage.
We know that if people are treated earlier, they have a good chance to live a longer and healthier life. That’s why lung cancer screening so important. If you are invited, make sure you get in contact with the screening team.
– Dr Malcolm Lawson, Consultant Respiratory Physician and Clinical Lead for Lung Cancer for the East of England region
Smokers and ex-smokers aged between 55 and 74 will initially speak to a check nurse over the phone. If deemed high-risk, they will be offered a low dose CT scan at a later date on a state-of-the-art mobile unit.
For more information about the programme please call 0300 300 1557 or visit:
East of England Lung Cancer