Saving lives by finding lung cancer early: Targeted Lung Health Checks Programme

Why are Lung Health Checks important?

The Targeted Lung Health Checks programme is a national NHS programme that aims to detect lung cancer earlier when treatment is more effective.

Lung cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer in the UK. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, there are often no signs or symptoms of lung cancer at the early stage. Even when there are symptoms, many people are not aware that they could be a sign of lung cancer and misinterpret the cause.

Secondly, lung cancer is particularly prevalent in smokers and ex-smokers. Although the number of smokers is falling, around 12% of the population are regular smokers. If you include people that regularly smoked in the past, the number is even higher. 25% of over 18s are classified as ex-smokers, and this increases with older age ranges: 28% for 55-64 and 38% for 65 or older. Not everyone who smokes or has smoked will develop cancer, but it does increase the likelihood.

The earlier lung cancer is detected, the better the outcome, with curative treatments available for earlier stage cancer. The Targeted Lung Health Checks aim to carry out checks in those who are at high risk of developing lung cancer so that more cancers can be detected in the early stages. Those identified at being at highest risk are people aged 55-74 who are smokers or used to smoke.

Lung Health Checks in Mid and South Essex

In Mid and South Essex, Lung Health Checks first started in Thurrock in December 2020. Thurrock was one of the first places in the country to introduce the checks due to the area having higher smoking rates than in other parts of England (14.6% smokers and 27.7% ex-smokers) and there were poorer outcomes for people diagnosed with lung cancer.

Subsequent areas to begin conducting Lung Health Checks in Mid and South Essex were also chosen based on smoking prevalence and lung cancer outcomes. After Thurrock, Lung Health Checks arrived in Southend, Rochford, Basildon and will be starting shortly in Brentwood.

As of October 2024, over 24,000 lung health checks have taken place in the region. This has led to over 11,300 CT scans for people at the highest risk. As a result, 163 lung cancers have been found of which the majority 114 were stage 1 or 2(70%).

Keith’s story

Keith from Thurrock was invited to a Lung Health Check in June 2021. Keith had been a smoker before moving to e-cigarettes and often had a feeling of breathlessness. After an initial phone call, he was invited to a CT scan and then a PET scan. A 3.5cm tumour had been found in Keith’s lungs.

I won’t lie, this hasn’t been easy, it’s knocked me for six but if I hadn’t have taken up the offer, it could have been a lot worse. I feel like the hand of God came down when the lung check invite arrived.

– Keith

Read more on Keith’s experiences of the programme:

What happens at a Lung Health Check?

To ensure residents are invited to a Lung Health Check, they need to have their smoking history recorded on their GP record. The Lung Health Check team will then invite them for an initial telephone appointment with a Lung Health Check nurse. If deemed high-risk for lung cancer, they will then be offered a low dose CT scan on a state-of-the-art mobile scanning unit.

These units are based in supermarket car parks and other easily accessible locations near to where people live. Every time the Lung Health Check programme starts in a new area, the unit moves to a location close by.

Future of the programme

Once all eligible residents in Basildon and Brentwood have been invited for a check, the Targeted Lung Health Check Programme will be expanding to encompass more of the region. Castle Point and parts of mid Essex will be next.

In the New Year, the programme will be going through a re-brand, changing its name to the NHS Lung Cancer Screening Programme. This is a first stage of the programme transitioning into a nationwide service, with all areas of mid and south Essex expected to have lung cancer screening in place by 2030.

For more information about the programme, visit the below website: