Following the announcement that the Targeted Lung Health Check Programme is set to become a national screening programme, BBC Look North visited the mobile scanning unit at Priory Campus in Barnsley to see what it all entailed for our patients.
Prior to visiting the scanning units, Look North spoke to Sandra Sloan, one of our patients, to understand more about her experience of the lung health check service.
Sandra was invited to have her lung health check in April 2021, when the programme was in Doncaster. “It saved my life,” Sandra told the presenter.
“I didn’t have a cough, no shortness of breath, nothing. I felt absolutely fine and hadn’t smoked for 16 years. I went for a scan and was told there was something on my lung – I just went to pieces.”
Because Sandra’s cancer was found at an early stage, she was able to have surgery to remove it. “They removed a third of my lung. I went into hospital on the Wednesday and was out by Saturday teatime.
“The lung health check team is just marvellous. I was frightened to have the scan because I suffer with claustrophobia, but the team was brilliant and really put me at ease.
“Please, just go for your lung health check if you’re invited. It could save your life.”
The Targeted Lung Health Check programme is making its way across Rotherham and Barnsley to identify any lung problems early, enabling earlier cancer diagnoses and improving lung cancer survival rates.
People aged 55 to 74 who have ever smoked and are registered with a GP will be invited by letter for a free NHS Lung Health Check.
Dr Jason Page, Clinical Director South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Targeted Lung Health Checks, was interviewed on the scanning unit. He told the BBC: “We want to stress the importance of keeping your appointment when you are invited.
“If you have received an invite, it is due to your increased risk of developing lung cancer or having other lung conditions and this is an opportunity to get an early diagnosis and have a much better chance of survival.”
A Targeted Lung Health Check is a two-stage process in which your lung health is assessed. A quick, initial phone call will take place to make sure you are eligible for the programme, and then a respiratory nurse will conduct an assessment with you over the phone.
Dr Page added: “You may not even need a scan. Only if you are identified as someone with a higher chance of developing lung cancer will you be invited to have a chest scan.
“Nearly 35,000 people have had their lung health checks across South Yorkshire and 276 cancers have been found. Of these, 211 were lung cancers, and 73% of these were at an early stage.
“The programme is undoubtedly saving lives, and now we are working across Rotherham and Barnsley with the intention of saving more.”