The news we have waited for is finally here. The government has confirmed a national targeted lung cancer screening programme.
People aged 55 to 74 with a GP record that shows a history of smoking will be assessed and then invited for screening.
What the rollout could achieve
Current pilot programmes have already found more than 2,000 lung cancer cases, with around 76% diagnosed at an early stage.
A national programme could detect up to 9,000 cases a year, deliver almost one million scans and help people start treatment far sooner. It could also support better lung health and help people cut their cancer risk.
How screening will work
GP records will help identify people who qualify. Eligible patients will be invited to an initial appointment where their lung cancer risk will be assessed, based on factors including smoking history.
People judged to be high risk will then be offered specialist scans every two years.
A major step forward
Paula Chadwick, chief executive of Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, welcomed the announcement:
“This is the day we begin to level up the lung cancer playing field.
“Screening helps us get ahead of this terrible disease. We can find cancer before symptoms appear and treat it with the aim to cure.
“Through the targeted Lung Health Check, over three quarters of detected cancers are found in stage one or two. This reverses the usual picture. National screening means many more people will be diagnosed early and survive, making today a very good day in our mission to beat the biggest cancer killer in the UK.”
Lives already changed
Fran White is one of the 2,000 people diagnosed through screening.
Fran already attends her bowel and breast screening appointments, so when she received her invitation for a lung screening, she booked in straightaway
“I thought getting my lungs checked was a good idea, even though I didn’t feel unwell,” says Fran.
“Cancer crossed my mind, so I wasn’t hugely shocked when they told me they’d found something. The speed surprised me more. I went from my first appointment to surgery in just a few months.
“My recovery was quick too. I now have check-ups every few months and otherwise my life is back to normal. I’ve been on holiday, I look after my grandchildren and I’m even thinking about going back to the gym. You would never know I had lung cancer!”
The first step in boosting early detection
Lung cancer has one of the lowest survival rates. Most people receive their diagnosis at a late stage. Finding lung cancer early gives people a much stronger chance. Right now, around 60% of those diagnosed at stage one survive for five years or more.
The national rollout could make 325,000 people eligible for a first scan each year. In total, it could lead to almost one million scans annually. Extra radiographers, hired through the long-term workforce plan, will help deliver the programme.
Next steps and unanswered questions
Paula Chadwick adds:
“We look forward to seeing the implementation plan in the coming weeks. This announcement is huge, but our work continues.
“We still have questions about rollout in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and how the NHS workforce will support this programme. For screening to reach its full potential, everyone across the UK must have access, backed by the right skills and resources.
“We also need to recognise that screening is only one part of our mission. Some people may feel frustrated by the targeted approach, but this moment deserves celebration. We have worked for decades to reach this point.
“Today marks the moment lung cancer becomes a priority. This is only the start. We are determined to keep pushing until early detection improves for everyone.”