Lung Cancer Screening

Cobalt supports the NHS with lung cancer screening.

The lung cancer screening  programme forms part of the NHS Long Term Plan to improve early diagnosis and survival for those diagnosed with cancer in the UK.

It targets those most at risk of lung cancer and will initially work with CCGs who have some of the highest rates of mortality from lung cancer.

People aged over 55 years old but less than 75 years old may be invited to participate in lung cancer screening. Those that have ever smoked will be eligible for a lung health check.

Following the lung health check, those assessed as high risk will be offered a low dose CT scan. It is estimated that approximately 3,400 cancers will be found – many earlier than they would have done otherwise – and the NHS will be able to offer more treatments, such as curative surgery which will save people’s lives.

Detecting lung cancer in the early stages is extremely difficult as often people don’t experience any symptoms and are not diagnosed until stage 3 or 4. A lung health check can help find any problems early, often before someone notices anything is wrong, and at a stage when treatment could be simpler and more successful.

The lung screening takes place in two stages. The first is an initial phone assessment with a specially trained respiratory nurse. If the assessment finds the person to be at high risk, they will be offered a low dose CT scan of the lungs for further investigation.