Past and current smokers in Birmingham and Sandwell will be invited for the first time to an NHS lung health check this year in a drive to improve earlier diagnosis of lung cancer and save more lives.

With some of the highest mortality rates for lung cancer in England, Birmingham and Sandwell are two of 43 places across the country to run the Targeted Lung Health Check programme.

Ann Lowe, aged 56 from Stoneleigh village, was invited to a targeted lung health check as part of the Coventry programme last August.

The initiative means more than 80,000 past and current smokers aged 55 to 74 in Washwood Heath (Birmingham), and Sandwell will be invited to a lung health check by their GP this year. This will identify an estimated 800 cases of lung cancer earlier than otherwise would have been.

Those invited will have an initial phone assessment with a specially trained health care professional. 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. The scanner is housed in a mobile unit, which will be located at convenient locations in Washwood Heath and Sandwell.

Lung cancer can often be caught too late as there are rarely symptoms at the earlier stages. The programme is designed to check those most at risk of developing lung cancer in order to spot signs earlier, at the stage when it’s much more treatable, ultimately saving lives.

Ann Lowe, aged 56 from Stoneleigh village, was invited to a targeted lung health check as part of the Coventry programme last August. After attending and further follow ups, she was diagnosed with both stage 3 lung cancer and stage 1 breast cancer.

She explains: “I didn’t really have any symptoms or reasons to worry apart from breathlessness, but I put that down to my asthma. If it wasn’t for the targeted lung health check, I wouldn’t have been diagnosed and I wouldn’t have had surgery and begun treatment last year. I’m so glad I went for the check – if I had ignored my letters, it could have been so much worse.”

Ruth Barwick, 72, from Stoke-on-Trent, was invited via her GP to attend a targeted lung health check last year, where they identified an aneurysm on the lung.

Ruth Barwick, 72, from Stoke-on-Trent, was invited via her GP to attend a targeted lung health check last year, where they identified an aneurysm on the lung.

She explains: “I knew I had been feeling ill, but I was just getting on with it. I wouldn’t have known or had the chance to still be here if it wasn’t for the lung health check, so I am so pleased I went to be checked when invited.

“The lung health check hardly takes any time. The hardest part for some people is turning up, but I assure you there’s nothing to be frightened about and they will talk you through everything.”

The Targeted Lung Health Check programme estimates it will diagnose around 9,000 cancers earlier with this new initiative taking place. In England, on average only 28% of lung cancers are diagnosed at an early stage.

However, with this initiative, lung cancer early diagnosis rates can be as high as 80% and allows more opportunities for earlier interventions, such as curative surgery – both of which, ultimately saves lives. Stop smoking advice will also be offered to support current smokers.

Sarah Hughes, Managing Director Cancer Alliances Midlands, said: “The roll out of the Targeted Lung Health Check programme is helping us to meet the ambitions set out in the NHS Long Term Plan to catch more cancers at an earlier stage, when they are easier to treat.

“Please do get checked if you are invited this year. In cases when there are signs of lung cancer or other lung conditions, the NHS can act quickly to treat and help you.”

This initiative is part of a wider programme that has been expanded into a further 20 locations – including Birmingham and Sandwell. Latest projections show as many as 1.5 million people will have been invited for a lung health check across 43 locations by 2024/25.

For more information on the Targeted Lung Health Check programme please visit https://www.england.nhs.uk/cancer/early-diagnosis/#targeted.

Our message remains the same – if you notice any new or unusual symptoms, such as an unexplained lump or unexplained blood that doesn’t come from an obvious injury (such as blood in your poo or pee), please do contact your GP and get it checked, the NHS is here for you. It’s probably nothing serious, but finding cancer early makes it more treatable.