Lung Health Checks

Brian, a 68 year old ex-smoker from Immingham in North East Lincolnshire, was the very first person in the region to receive a low dose CT scan as part of his NHS Targeted Lung Health Check. Although he felt fine, the scan showed that Brian had health conditions he was unaware of. Now he is encouraging everyone who is invited for a lung health check, to book their initial telephone assessment.

Reflecting on his experience of a lung health check, Brain said: “I first received my letter at the start of the year which invited me to have a telephone call with a specially trained nurse. This took just over half an hour.

“I answered questions about my life, especially as I smoked 20 years ago, and I worked on a chemical plant for 30 years.”

Following the telephone assessment, Brian was booked in for an appointment for a low dose CT scan of his lungs.

After the scan, Brian was apprehensive whilst he waited two weeks for his results. Brian said: “I received the letter through the post and thankfully there were no signs of lung cancer, which was a relief. However, they had found mild coronary artery calcification and emphysema, which was good to know.

“Even though I feel well in myself, I was assured that I could contact my GP for any support, and I will be invited for a follow-up appointment in two years.”

Brian’s experience has inspired him to recommend other eligible people to have their lungs checked. Brian said: “Since going for my lung health check I have encouraged my friends and family to take up their appointments when they are invited. You can get help sooner if anything is found.”

Although Brian lived an active lifestyle, he knew it was important to take up the screening when invited. Brian commented: “I can cycle to Grimsby and back, but that didn’t deter me from getting scanned. I know if something is caught early, treatment is more likely to be successful. I’m so glad I had my lungs checked.

“The lung health check team were all so friendly and they explained everything to me and made the process as easy as possible.”

The NHS Targeted Lung Health Check service is a potentially life-saving programme that helps patients at highest risk of lung cancer and other respiratory diseases get an earlier diagnosis, often before there are any symptoms displayed.

Smokers and ex-smokers, between the ages of 55 and 74 and registered with a local GP will be eligible for a lung health check. The programme is inviting patients across Humber and North Yorkshire in a phased approach. To find out more about lung health checks, including whether you are eligible and if the service is available in your area, visit the lung health checks website.

If you are worried about any symptoms of lung cancer, such as experiencing a cough for three weeks or longer, please contact your GP.

Jean, a 65-year-old ex-smoker from Hull, is encouraging others to attend an NHS Lung Health Check if invited, after the service helped to identify some health issues and make positive changes to her lifestyle.

Jean said: “In October 2022, I was experiencing a nasty cough that I couldn’t get rid of so when a letter from my GP arrived inviting me for a free Lung Health Check, I decided to make an appointment.

“The Lung Health Check began with a telephone appointment with a nurse who asked me about my overall lung health, so I told her about my coughing fits. The fits were regular and often caused my eyes to stream, which I was very embarrassed about when at the shops and around other people. I just seemed to have no control over them.”

After the initial telephone assessment with a specialist nurse, Jean was invited for a low-dose CT scan on a unit located at Morrisons on Holderness Road, in east Hull.

Jean said: “As I had quit smoking a long time ago, I was surprised to find out that the scan had showed I have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and emphysema. It also identified I was prone to heart attacks and am at higher risk of strokes.

“At first I was shocked by the diagnosis I had received but it quickly prompted me to start making some lifestyle choices that would help prioritise my health.

“I started to look after myself more. I now eat healthier, go on bike rides and walk my dog as much as I can. My emphysema can often cause me to feel out of breath, but I take things steady when I need to and remain determined to be as healthy as I can. I used to work in care, and have seen patients struggle with similar illnesses, so I want to prevent that happening as much as possible.”

Since taking part in the NHS Targeted Lung Health Check programme, Jean has shared her experience with her friends and family and encourages anyone invited for a Lung Health Check to book their appointment.

She said: “Just book it and go, it is the best thing you can do, and it gives you peace of mind.

“All of the staff I have met through the Lung Health Check service have been extremely supportive and the information I have received about helping to manage my condition has been very helpful. I am grateful to the NHS for my ongoing support and I’m really glad I took up the offer of a Lung Health Check.”

To find out more about Lung Health Checks, including whether you are eligible and the service is available in your area, visit the Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance website.

If you are worried about symptoms of lung cancer, such as experiencing a cough for three weeks or longer, please contact your GP.

To mark the start of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance has joined forces with Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and NHS England to bring a Let’s Talk Lung Cancer roadshow to Hull.

Giant inflatable lungs that will be in St Stephen’s

On Wednesday, 1^st November 2023, a giant pair of inflatable lungs will arrive at St Stephen’s shopping centre to raise awareness of lung cancer symptoms and start much-need conversations around the disease.

The event comes after a recent survey of over 2,000 adults in England found that just two in five respondents (41%) would visit their GP if they had a cough for three weeks or more, which could be a sign of lung cancer.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Humber and North Yorkshire and the roadshow aims to improve local understanding and awareness of the disease. People visiting the roadshow will be able to learn about the potential symptoms and risk factors beyond smoking, as well as how to improve their general lung health and reduce their risk of the disease.

Dr Dan Cottingham, Cancer Research UK GP Lead for Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance, said: “It is great to welcome the Let’s Talk Cancer roadshow to Hull as it starts a tour across the country.

“People diagnosed with lung cancer at the earliest stage are nearly 20 times more likely to survive for five years than those whose cancer is caught late, so it is important to ensure people know what signs to look out for and to encourage anyone experiencing symptoms of lung cancer to contact their GP without delay.

“The main symptoms of lung cancer include a cough that doesn’t go away after three weeks, chest infections that keep coming back, coughing up blood, an ache or pain when breathing or coughing, persistent breathlessness, persistent tiredness or lack of energy and/or loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss.

“This new roadshow comes alongside the continued roll out of NHS Targeted Lung Health Checks across Humber and North Yorkshire. The service, which is currently operating in Hull and parts of North East Lincolnshire and the East Riding of Yorkshire, will be available in all areas of Humber and North Yorkshire in the coming years.

“A lung health check can help to identify lung cancer and other respiratory diseases early, often before symptoms have occurred and when treatment could be simpler and more successful. I would urge anyone invited to take up the opportunity of a free lung health check – even if you feel fine.”

Chief executive of Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, Paula Chadwick, said: “It is staggering that half of those surveyed still do not know how prevalent lung cancer is. We believe this stems from a reluctance to talk about lung cancer, and that is largely because of its links to smoking and associated stigma.

Anyone wanting to know more about lung cancer is urged to speak to the team

“That’s why these events are so important. They give us the opportunity to have one-on-one conversations which people who may not realise they are at risk, who may not recognise potential symptoms or may feel unable to act on them, or too fearful to.

“If we can help one person in Hull get diagnosed earlier when lung cancer can often be treated with curative intent, then that is worth doing.”

The Let’s Talk Lung Cancer roadshow will be at St Stephen’s shopping centre in Hull on Wednesday, 1^st November 2023 between 10am and 4pm. Anyone wanting to know more about lung cancer is urged to go down and speak to the team.

An NHS Targeted Lung Health Check Service, which is helping to save lives through earlier diagnosis of lung cancer and other conditions, is now being offered to eligible participants living in Grimsby.

Over the next few months, people living in Grimsby who are former or current smokers, aged from 55 to 74, and registered with a Grimsby GP practice will receive a letter inviting them to make an appointment for a Lung Health Check telephone assessment with a specially trained nurse.

The telephone assessment covers aspects such as lifestyle, family history and any breathing issues. Following this, some participants may be offered a low dose CT scan which is set to be located at Tesco on Market Street, in Grimsby.

Lung Health Checks are being delivered in phases across North East Lincolnshire and over 600 people living in Immingham have already benefited from the service since it first launched in the area in March 2023.

To find out more about the Lung Health Checks in North East Lincolnshire visit www.lunghealthcheck.org.uk.

More than 19,000 people in North East Lincolnshire are being invited for a free NHS Targeted Lung Health Check, which can identify potential lung problems earlier when they are easier to treat.

The checks are open to past and present smokers aged between 55 and 74, who are registered with a local GP, and support the NHS ambition to detect more cancers at an earlier stage.

Eligible people are being contacted in phases and will receive a letter from their GP inviting them to book an appointment. Those first receiving invites are patients from The Roxton Practice Immingham, followed by Open Door and Quayside Medical Centre.

Dr Stuart Baugh, Clinical Director for the NHS Targeted Lung Health Check Programme in North East Lincolnshire said: “Lung cancer especially, is often diagnosed at a later stage as there are rarely symptoms early in the illness. The NHS Targeted Lung Health Check programme checks those most at risk of developing lung cancer to spot signs of lung and chest problems earlier when treatment can be simpler and more effective.”

Dr Iain Chalmers, Cancer Care Lead for North and North East Lincolnshire and Medical Director at St Andrews Hospice Grimsby added: “Lung Health Checks are going to make a huge difference to so many people. I urge anyone, who receives a letter, to make an appointment. If any problems with your lungs are found early, it could ultimately save your life.”

Anyone invited for a Lung Health Check has an initial 20-minute phone assessment with a specially trained health care professional. This looks at breathing, lifestyle, family, and medical history. If the assessment finds the person to be at high risk, they are offered a low dose CT scan which can detect early signs of lung cancer or lung disease.

CT scans take place in a mobile unit in community locations such as supermarket car parks and sports stadiums, making it easy for people to park and drop in. As the Lung Health Checks will operate in phases, the unit will move around to be convenient and accessible to people in those areas. Details of the locations can be found at www.lunghealthcheck.org.uk as they’re released.

Lung Health Checks are offered at various times during the week, making it as easy and convenient as possible for people to take up the opportunity. The mobile units being in central locations such as shopping centres mean people needing a CT scan can even combine this with their weekly shop, removing the need for any unnecessary journeys too.

During the check, current smokers will also be offered advice to support them to stop smoking should they wish to, and the Lung Health Check team will also be available to answer any questions people might have.
Scan results are analysed by specialist clinicians and participants receive their results in approximately four weeks. If further follow up is needed, participants are referred by the service to their GP or hospital.

Stuart added: “Finding cancers early is essential. From what we’ve seen during the initial pilot phases, such as that in nearby Hull, Lung Health Checks are undoubtedly playing a big part in improving cancer outcomes across the UK.”

For more information on the Targeted Lung Health Check programme please visit www.lunghealthchecks.org.uk.