Lung checks are now available to people in Plymouth as part of an NHS scheme in the South West which aims to improve earlier diagnosis of lung cancer and save more lives.

Nearly 10,000 people in the region have already been checked.

The Targeted Lung Health Check Programme gives current and past smokers the chance of having lung cancer detected and treated earlier.

With one of the highest mortality rates for lung cancer in England, Plymouth is one of 50 places nationally, to offer the Targeted Lung Health Check programme.

As of yesterday (Monday 20 November) scans started in the north of Plymouth.

People who are current or past smokers will be invited by letter by their GP to have a lung health check. The checks will take place in two stages.

The first is an initial phone assessment with a specially trained health care professional. If the assessment finds the person to be at high risk, they are offered a low dose CT scan of the lungs for further investigation.

The initiative means more than 47,500 past and current smokers aged 55 to 74 in Plymouth will be invited to a lung health.

To date the community initiative, part of the NHS Targeted Lung Health Check Programme, has seen more than three quarters (77%) of cancers caught at either stage one or two, giving patients a much better chance of beating the illness. This compares to less than a third of cancers caught at either stage one or two in 2018.

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.

Cyrus Daneshvar, of the Peninsula Cancer Alliance and consultant in respiratory medicine at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, said: “Lung cancer is often caught too late, as there are few if any symptoms in 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 and ultimately saving more lives.”

The Targeted Lung Health Check programme estimates it will diagnose around 9,000 cancers earlier than would otherwise have been within the 50 plus sites running the checks. This offers the opportunity for earlier interventions, including curative surgery, which will save people’s lives.

Stop smoking advice will also be offered to support current smokers by the local stop smoking service. One You Plymouth Smoking Cessation practitioners will be providing friendly, specialist, personalised support needed to enable smokers to stop smoking, by offering appointments either over the phone or inviting people to come to face to face clinics, as quitting with support makes someone four times more likely to stop smoking successfully. The team understands how hard it is to take that first step towards change and are here to help.

Councillor Mary Aspinall, Plymouth City Council Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, said: “Bringing this lung check programme to Plymouth makes it is easier than ever to get checked out. We’re urging anyone who gets a letter from their GP to join the thousands of others – and get in touch for your check.

“It’s also a good reminder for anyone who smokes to think about cutting down and stopping by contacting our local stop smoking support service, One You Plymouth.”

For more information on the Targeted Lung Health Check programme please visit Targeted Lung Health Checks – Peninsula Cancer Alliance