NHS lung cancer screening checks are now being offered to current and former smokers in Selby – the first time this life-saving service has been offered in North Yorkshire.
Past and current smokers, aged between 55 and 74, who live in Selby and are registered with a GP practice in the town are now being invited to book a lung cancer screening appointment.
They will receive a letter from their GP inviting them to book a telephone assessment with a specially trained respiratory nurse. Following the telephone assessment, participants may be invited for a low-dose CT scan onboard a mobile unit situated at Selby War Memorial Hospital.
Lung cancer screening can help identify lung cancer and other respiratory diseases early, often before symptoms occur and when treatment is likely to be more successful.
The NHS Lung Cancer Screening programme, formerly known as the NHS Targeted Lung Health Check programme, was first launched in Humber and North Yorkshire in 2020 – with Hull being one of the first areas in England to offer this service.
It has since also been rolled out in North East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, and will be rolled out across other parts of North Yorkshire this year.
Since its launch six years ago, the programme has carried out more than 50,000 assessments, detecting 492 cancers (of which three-quarters were detected at an early stage).
Dr Stuart Baugh, Programme Director for Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance’s NHS Lung Cancer Screening programme, said: “We are delighted to be offering lung cancer screening to eligible people in Selby – an area of Humber and North Yorkshire with an above-average smoking prevalence rate.
“If you receive a letter from your GP inviting you to book a lung cancer screening appointment – please book your appointment right away. The 20-minute assessment could save your life by detecting lung cancer and other respiratory diseases earlier – when treatment can be simpler and more successful.”
Ash Nicholls, Lung Cancer Screening Programme Manager, York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We’re pleased to offer NHS lung cancer screening checks in Selby – the first roll-out phase in the North Yorkshire area.
“The NHS Lung Cancer Screening programme plays an important role in the early detection of lung cancer and other respiratory diseases. It offers real hope and reassurance, particularly for those most at risk. It’s a vital step in improving outcomes and saving lives in our community.” Find out more about the NHS Lung Cancer Screening programme in Humber and North Yorkshire by visiting the Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance website.