Lung roadshow touring North East and North Cumbria to promote life-saving initiative

The NHS, in collaboration with Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, will be touring the North East and North Cumbria this week to raise awareness of lung cancer screening and encourage those eligible to take up this potentially life-saving opportunity.

Lung cancer screening is helping to diagnose lung cancer earlier, often before symptoms develop and when treatment is more likely to be successful.

Across the region, nearly 600 lung cancers have so far been diagnosed thanks to screening, with more than 195,000 people having been invited for checks as part of the programme, led by the Northern Cancer Alliance and North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board.

Members of local lung cancer screening teams and staff from Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation will be on-hand at the roadshows to give advice, answer any questions and signpost to support and services. The roadshows will take place:

• Monday 7 April: Whitehaven – Morrisons
• Tuesday 8 April: Blyth – town centre
• Wednesday 9 April: Boldon – Asda
• Thursday 10 April: Hartlepool – Middleton Grange Shopping Centre
• Friday 11 April: Newcastle – West Denton Retail Centre
• Saturday 12 April: Seaham – Byron Place Shopping Centre

Dr Liz Fuller, the Alliance’s Clinical Lead for Lung Cancer Screening, said: “Lung cancer often doesn’t have any symptoms until it’s in the late stages. Screening is changing this, with three out of four lung cancers found at an early stage when treatment is more likely to be successful.

“By getting out into local communities, we want to make sure everyone who is eligible for screening takes up the opportunity as it could save their life, and we’d encourage anyone to come and speak to us to find out more.”

Chief executive of Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, Paula Chadwick, said: “Lung cancer screening is saving lives, and it is vital that everyone who is invited, goes for screening – even if they feel well and have no symptoms.

“Our screening roadshow gives us the opportunity to talk openly about lung cancer and screening, answer any questions or address any concerns people might have about attending.”

People in the North East and North Cumbria aged 55 to 74 are gradually being offered a lung health check if:

• They are registered with a GP practice
• Their GP record shows that they smoke or have ever smoked

To find out more information and further details about the checks in specific areas, click here or contact the team at nencicb.tlhc@nhs.net