One in two people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime; lung cancer alone causes around 35,000 deaths per year in the UK.

Early diagnosis is key to effective treatment and increasing survival for all cancers, but particularly for lung cancer: currently around 75% of lung cancers are diagnosed at a late stage – stages 3 and 4. Only 25% are diagnosed at the earlier stages 1 and 2.

If diagnosed at the earliest stage, 70% of lung cancer patients will survive for at least a year, compared to around 14% for people diagnosed with the most advanced stage of the disease.

There are usually no signs or symptoms of lung cancer in the early stages.  Symptoms develop as the condition progresses.

Do not wait until you are invited to lung cancer screening if you have any of the following symptoms:

• a cough that does not go away after 3 weeks
• a long-standing cough that gets worse
• chest infections that keep coming back
• coughing up blood
• an ache or pain when breathing or coughing
• persistent breathlessness
• persistent tiredness or lack of energy
• loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss

Less common symptoms of lung cancer include:

• changes in the appearance of your fingers, such as becoming more curved or their ends becoming larger (this is known as finger clubbing)
• difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) or pain when swallowing
• wheezing
• a hoarse voice
• swelling of your face or neck
• persistent chest or shoulder pain

The following people will be invited to attend Lung Cancer Screening:

People who are:

• aged between 55 – 74
• smoke or have ever smoked
• you’re registered with a GP surgery and live in an area where lung health checks are being offered

If you’re not sure the GP knows that you currently smoke, or have smoked in the past, contact the GP surgery and ask them to update your record. This will make sure you are invited for a lung health check in the future.

If you were previously invited but did not take up the offer of screening at that time, for whatever reason, you can still make an appointment by contacting the booking teams on the telephone numbers below:

Dudley: 01384 884384

Sandwell: 0121 817 5449

You will be sent a letter, inviting you to make an appointment that will take place over the phone (that takes around 20 minutes).

This free lung check is carried out by specialist nurses. They’ll ask you a few questions which will assess your risk of developing lung cancer.

You’ll be asked about your breathing and overall health, and you’ll have time to talk to the nurse about any concerns you may have.

You may then be offered an appointment to have a CT scan for further investigation.  This will take place in a safe mobile unit at a convenient location such as a supermarket carpark or a community centre, making it as easy as possible for you to attend.

The scanner isn’t noisy or enclosed, and someone will be with you at all times if you need any support.

The results of the scan will be sent to you after being checked by the doctor.

You’ll also receive a letter about two to four weeks later explaining what to do next.