Urgent warning to anyone over 55 who has ever smoked to get vital check
ANYONE over the age of 55 who has ever smoked should be offered lung cancer screening, a government advisory body has said.
The UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC) has called for the checks to be rolled out across the entire UK to help spot cases of the deadly condition.
The committee said all former and current smokers aged between 55 and 74 should be invited to an assessment by a medic.
Anyone who is considered to be at high risk of lung cancer would be offered a low dose CT scan, under the new plans.
Around 47,000 people are diagnosed with the lung cancer every year in the UK – and 34,700 people die.
In England, it is the fifth biggest cause of death overall.
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Dr Ian Walker, Cancer Research UK’s executive director of policy, said: “We welcome this recommendation and urge governments in all four UK nations to roll out a targeted lung cancer screening programme as swiftly as possible.
“Lung cancer causes more deaths in the UK than any other cancer type, and screening could save lives by diagnosing people at an earlier stage – when treatment is more likely to be successful.
The new advice said the approach would slash lung cancer deaths, as cancers would be detected earlier than they would have been otherwise.
What are the symptoms of lung cancer?
While suffering with a lingering cough, feeling tired and losing your appetite could be mistaken for a virus or common cold, it may be the sign of something more serious and is worth getting check out.
Other symptoms of lung cancer can include:
- Having a cough most of the time
- A change in a cough you have had for a long time
- Being short of breath
- Coughing up phlegm which has signs of blood
- Aches or pains in the chest or shoulder
- Loss of appetite
- Tiredness
- Weight loss
Diagnosing cancer early, before it has the chance to spread too far, means that treatment is more likely to be successful.
It also said that anyone undergoing screening who still smokes should be given advice on how to quit.
Smoking is the biggest preventable cause of cancer in the UK, and worldwide.
According to a new study, 61 per cent of cancer cases a year could have been prevented if people gave up smoking.
Dr Ian called for stop smoking services need to be “adequately funded”.
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“This is so people who want to quit can continue to get the support they need after participation in the programme,” he explained.
There are 23 areas in England where NHS Lung Health Checks are either already taking place or starting soon.