A new NHS Programme designed to spot the early signs of lung cancer is being rolled out in Cumbria.
The programme will see smokers and former smokers aged between 55 and 74 be invited to an appointment that will check the health of their lungs.
It is being delivered by North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust and will then be rolled out by GP practices.
Patients registered with James Street practice in Workington are among the first to be invited to have the health check.
Patients registered at practices across parts of Cumbria will also receive invites from late 2024 to early 2025.
The first part of the programme will see eligible patients attend a telephone appointment to assess the risk of lung cancer.
Participants may then be invited for a CT scan depending on their risk.
Targeted hung health checks aim to achieving earlier detection of lung cancer in areas where the population has a higher mortality from this type of cancer.
By detecting lung cancer earlier and identifying it at an earlier stage when it is much more treatable and there is a higher chance of survival, the programme can save lives.
Vicky Lamonby lung cancer specialist nurse said: “Lung cancer is a leading cause of death but the earlier it is spotted the easier it is treated, so it’s important that if you are invited to a health check that you attend. Don’t ignore it, it could save your life.”
While the health check is an important part of detecting lung cancer early, it is still vitally important that anyone with symptoms that could be a sign of lung cancer makes an appointment to see their GP.
Vicky added, “If you have a cough that has lasted more than two weeks, shortness of breath, feeling tired coughing up blood please do not delay in making an appointment to see a GP.”
