More lung-cancer cases detected earlier

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More lung-******* cases detected earlier

BBC

An NHS mobile lung-******* screening clinic in Gorton, Manchester.

A lung-******* screening programme that sees mobile clinics visit local communities in England has detected the ******** earlier in more than 5,000 people.

Specially adapted lorries have been visiting supermarkets, football grounds and town centres in areas with the highest rates of the ********, as part of the biggest initiative of its kind in NHS history.

Since the programme’s launch, in 2019, 5,037 lung cancers have been detected, with 76% of those at the earliest stages of the ********.

People are nearly 20 times more likely to survive for five years if their ******* is detected early, experts say.

Phil Bennett’s stage-one lung ******* was detected after he was seen at a mobile screening clinic in Manchester

Phil Bennett, from Droylsden, Manchester, counts himself lucky.

At first, he ignored a letter inviting him to be screened at one of the mobile clinics.

He had no symptoms and was too busy with work as a self-employed decorator.

But when he did take up the offer, it was discovered he had stage-one lung *******.

And its early detection made a huge difference to his chances of beating the ********.

‘Very unlucky’

“Just go and have it done for peace of mind – or if you need treatment, it’ll be sorted straight away,” Mr Bennett says.

“Don’t ignore it. I was very lucky. If you get the invite, you must go along and have it checked. It’s worth it in the end. It could save your life.”

Noticeable symptoms

The programme focuses on 55-74-year-old current and past smokers, who are offered a health check and, if needed, a scan.

But experts stress NHS staff are there to offer help and advice – not lecture people about smoking.

Lung ******* does not usually cause noticeable symptoms until it has spread through the lungs or into other parts of the body.

And it is the third commonest type of ******* in the *** – leading to about 35,000 deaths each year.

Symptoms include:

a long-standing, worsening coughpersistent breathlessnesscontinuing tiredness or lack of energyunexplained loss of weight or appetite

And anyone with any of these symptoms, should visit their GP straight away.

Dr Haval Balata is a consultant respiratory physician at Withenshaw Hospital

Anyone who misses their initial appointment at a mobile clinic, still has plenty of opportunities to be seen at one, Dr Haval Balata, a consultant respiratory physician at Wythenshawe Hospital, says.

“Life’s busy for everybody – but we do our best to make it convenient and give people ample opportunity,” he says.

“So the trucks are typically here for 12 hours a day. We’re here on weekends. And whenever we go to a location, we’re there for a good ******* of time – it’s not like two days.

“So if you can’t make the original appointment, just let us know – ring us and we’ll reschedule.”

Roy Castle Lung ******* Foundation chief executive Paula Chadwick said: “It is fantastic to see that more lives continue to be saved through the targeted lung health checks – and we urge everyone who is invited to take up the opportunity.”

The mobile lung-******* screening programme should be fully rolled out across the country by 2030.

******* Research *** chief executive Michelle Mitchell, said: “Expanding the programme across England will help to catch more cancers – and we hope to see targeted lung screening implemented across the *** so people can benefit from potentially life-saving checks.”

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