Our new life-saving lung check programme has scanned its 100th patient on World Lung Cancer Day, 1 August 2022, as part of a national pilot called the Targeted Lung Health Check Programme. The scan, which only takes 40 seconds, uses the latest technology and takes place in an innovative mobile unit which is being used for the first time in England. The unit is located in the car park of Barking Sporthouse and Gym in Mayesbrook Park on Lodge Avenue.
Local resident Lorraine, who had her scan on World Lung Cancer Day said “I have sadly lost family members to cancer and so I know the importance of finding it early so it can be treated. I’ve come along to rule out any issues to give me peace of mind. If they do find anything then they can do something about it!”
Over 14,000 residents in Barking and Dagenham should expect to receive an invitation over the next 12 months. We are planning to expand this service to other areas later this year and into next year.
These lung checks are just part of the work we are doing across north east London to tackle lung cancer. Recent highlights of our achievements include:
- The highest systemic treatment rates in England at 64%, with a national target to increase this to 70%.
- The best one-year survival (proportion of patients still alive one year after diagnosis) in the country at 49%. The ultimate aim of catching more cancers earlier is to be able to offer curative treatments such as surgery and radiotherapy and improve this further.
- We also have one of the fastest pathways in the country including the fastest pathway in the country for patients with small cell lung cancer (a rapidly progressive form of lung cancer requiring particularly rapid treatment)
Dr Rebecca Taylor, Clinical Director for the Targeted Lung Health Check Programme in north east London, says: “It’s great that we have already scanned 100 local residents, and especially to achieve this milestone on World Lung Cancer Day, such an important day to raise awareness of lung cancer.
“We plan to rapidly increase the number we are scanning over the coming weeks and so we urge all residents in Barking & Dagenham who receive an invitation letter to follow the instructions and attend their appointment. It could be life-saving.” For more information on lung health checks, visit our web pages or email nelondonicb.lungcheck@nhs.net.
