Over 200 lung cancers detected early in Sussex thanks to preventative lung screening programme

More than 200 people with lung cancer have had it spotted early in Sussex thanks to a screening programme.

NHS Sussex says lung cancer is the biggest cancer killer in the UK, often diagnosed too late because symptoms can be hard to spot.

The health check programme, launched in June 2022, has already given hundreds of people in Sussex the chance of life-saving treatment.

Over 65,000 invitations have been sent to people aged 55 to 74 who have ever smoked. Of these, 37,700 attended a lung health check, and more than 19,000 CT scans were carried out in community locations such as supermarket car parks and town centres. As a result, 200 people have been diagnosed with lung cancer, with 78.3% detected at stage one or two, when treatment is most effective.

Lung health checks are offered to people aged 55 to 74 who currently or formerly smoked, as this group is at higher risk of developing lung conditions. Attending can help identify issues before symptoms occur, when treatment is more likely to succeed. A 30-minute appointment could save a life.

People do not need to self-refer to the programme. Those eligible automatically receive an invitation by letter in a distinctive yellow NHS envelope. Within 14 days of receiving the invitation, a patient care advisor makes a telephone call to complete a short health assessment lasting around 15 minutes. The call includes questions about lung health, lifestyle, family, and medical history.

Depending on the outcome, people may then be invited for a low-dose CT scan. These take place on mobile units in community locations to make them easy to access locally. The scan itself only takes a few minutes. Results are sent by letter, and if further tests are needed, the clinical team contacts the patient directly. In most cases, no action is required, and people are re-invited after two years for another check.

One patient, Bryn Evans, 65, from Billingshurst, West Sussex, described his experience:

“My name is Bryn Evans. I’m 65 years old and I live in Billingshurst, West Sussex. I received an invitation for a scan from my doctors, they obviously thought it was worth me having one. I’ve been a smoker most of my life and have had asthma all my life too, so those two things together, plus my age, made me think it was better to be safe than sorry.

“The scan itself was nice and easy. It was a bit like being on an aeroplane just before takeoff, with the noise building up – but simple and over very quickly.

“I’m glad I had it done. Better to be safe than sorry, really. If you’ve got cancer in the family, or you’ve been a smoker, then why wouldn’t you go?”

Jackie Hughes, Lung Cancer Screening Nurse in Horsham, said: “If we can detect lung cancer at stage 1 or 2, it’s very treatable and often curative…That’s why I’m passionate about screening, we’re now finding cancers earlier, at stage 1, and patients have so many more treatment options.

“To anyone who receives an invitation but is unsure, I would say: go for it. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain. We’re offering a free scan that could detect lung cancer early, when it’s most treatable. And because the scan also looks at the heart, lungs, and blood vessels, sometimes we even pick up other health issues that might need attention. It really can make a huge difference.”

Dr James Ramsay, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Sussex, said the programme reflects the region’s wider commitment to early diagnosis.

“Our goal is to ensure people in Sussex have access to the right checks, at the right time, in places that are easy to reach. Detecting cancer early changes everything, from the treatments available to the chances of a full recovery.”

For more information about the NHS lung health check programme, visit the NHS website.