A lung-cancer screening programme that sees mobile clinics visit local communities in England has detected the disease earlier in more than 5,000 people. Specially adapted lorries have been visiting supermarkets, football grounds and town centres in areas with the highest rates of the disease, as part of the biggest initiative of its kind in NHS history. Since the programme's launch, in 2019, 5,037 lung cancers have been detected, with 76% of those at the earliest stages of the disease.
People are nearly 20 times more likely to survive for five years if their cancer is detected early, experts say. Phil Bennett, from Droylsden, Manchester, counts himself lucky. At first, he ignored a letter inviting him to be screened at one of the mobile clinics.
He had no symptoms and was too busy with work as a self-employed decorator. But when he did take up the offer, it was discovered he had stage-one lung cancer. And its early detection made a huge difference to his chances of beating the disease.
“Just go and have it done for peace of mind - or if you need treatment, it’ll be sorted straight away," Mr Bennett says. "Don’t ignore it. I was very lucky.
If you get the invite, you must go along and have it checked. It’s worth it in the end. It could save your life.
” The programme focuses on 55-74-year-old current and past smokers, who are offered a health check and, if needed, a scan. But experts stress NHS staff are there to offer help and advice - not lecture people about smoki.
