Lung Cancer Screening programme reaches key milestones

The NHS Lung Cancer Screening Programme, currently being rolled out across Surrey and Sussex, has diagnosed more than 400 local people with lung cancer since it was first launched in the region in June 2022.

More than three-quarters of those patients were diagnosed at Stage 1 and 2 which widens the treatment options and improves survival rates. To date, more than 137,000 people across the region have been invited for lung screening. Lung cancer screening is being offered to residents aged between 55 and 74 with those who smoke or have smoked in the past invited for a lung health check.

“The Lung Cancer Screening Programme has been a game-changer in diagnosing lung cancer earlier,” says Jenny Messenger, co-clinical director for lung screening. “Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death¹ and can often be caught too late as there are rarely symptoms at the earlier stages.

“Lung screening is designed to identify those most at risk of developing lung cancer. We are able to pick up lung cancers much earlier, much smaller, which means we are able to treat them with the intention of getting rid of them.”

Lung cancer often doesn’t cause symptoms in its early stages, so screening plays a crucial role in early detection. Outside of the programme, only one-third of lung cancers are diagnosed at an early stage.

Latest statistic from Cancer Research UK shows there are around 32,800 lung cancer deaths in the UK every year, that's 90 every day, it accounts for almost two in every 10 cancer deaths. (2022-2024).

One patient who was diagnosed early through lung screening was Ginnie, pictured with her son Oscar.

““I was told because it was caught early, it would be cured by the treatment,” she says. “I would say to any smoker, if you receive an invite for a lung health check, please just go for the scan. They won’t judge you. Go for your loved ones.”

Lung screening is a national initiative being rolled out in phases across the country with the aim of reaching all eligible populations by 2030. To date, more than 10,000 people in England have been diagnosed with lung cancer through the programme.

Since its launch locally four years ago, lung screening has reached 30% of the eligible population - starting in Sussex, expanding into areas of Frimley and recently launched in to Surrey.  

How it works:

People aged between 55 and 74 years are automatically invited for lung screening by letter when the programme reaches their GP practice. 

Those who are eligible will have a lung health check via an initial phone assessment with a specially trained health care professional. If the assessment finds the person to be higher risk, they will be offered a free low dose CT scan of the lungs for further investigation (a CT scan is a series of X-rays taken from different angles).

This will take place in a mobile scanner situated in convenient locations across the region, such as supermarket car parks. Current smokers who take up the invite are signposted to free smoking cessation advice.

Surrey resident Mel Bond decided to take up her lung screening invite because her husband was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer a few years ago.

“Had he been diagnosed earlier, it probably would have been a better prognosis,” she says. “He’s an ex-smoker and I’m an ex-smoker, so this was a perfect opportunity to get checked out.”

For the majority of people, the lung health check and CT scan will reassure them that they are okay. But for some, lung cancer may be found early and that means they can receive treatment sooner.  

• Read more about the Lung Cancer Screening Programme and use the GP checker to find out when it will be coming to your area: Surrey and Sussex Lung Cancer Screening

1. Cancer Research UK