How will I be invited?

You will receive an invitation letter in the post when we are next in your area. Following this you will receive a telephone call to confirm your eligibility and appointment.

Why have I been invited?

Lung cancer screening is being offered to people aged 55 to 74 and who smoke or have ever smoked. If you are eligible, you will receive an invitation letter when we are next in your area, so long as your GP smoking record is accurate and up to date.

Why are we offering lung cancer screening?

There are often no signs or symptoms of lung cancer at an early stage. As a result, sadly seven out of 10 cancer patients are diagnosed too late to be cured. Screening can help diagnose lung cancer early, at a stage where treatment can be simpler and more successful.

What happens at a screening appointment?

1. Telephone appointment 

You will be invited to an initial assessment which usually takes place over the phone.

You will be contacted at the time of your appointment by a nurse who will ask a series of questions about your smoking history, lifestyle and current health and well-being.

The nurse will complete a risk score to assess your risk of getting lung cancer now or in the future. We work out your risk from factors such as your history of smoking, lifestyle factors and your family’s medical history.

2. CT scan

If your answers indicate that you are at high risk, you will be offered a low-dose CT scan. The risks and benefits of the CT scan will be explained to you by the nurse, who will help you to choose whether the scan is right for you.

Where is lung cancer screening being offered?

Lung cancer screening is being rolled out across Lancashire and South Cumbria. We aim to cover the whole of Lancashire and South Cumbria by 2030. So far, we have covered:

  • Blackpool
  • Blackburn with Darwen
  • East Lancashire
  • Fylde and Wyre

Don’t worry if you haven’t had an invite, we are rolling out GP practice by GP practice.

Screening is offered on a rolling basis, which means you will be reinvited every two years. If you live in one of above areas and previously missed screening, look out for an invitation when we next return to your area.

I have received an invitation to another CT scan - why?

If you received a clear result at your first CT scan, you will be reinvited every two years for a follow-up scan. We encourage everyone to attend their repeat scan, to spot whether any issues have developed in the two years since your first scan.

Letters for follow-up scans are currently being sent to people in Blackpool, Blackburn with Darwen and East Lancashire, who received their first CT scan two years ago.

Please do come to your appointment – it could be lifesaving.

What can I do to help keep my lungs healthy?

Keep active – Doing small amounts of regular exercise is great for your lungs.

Eat healthily – Eating a healthy and balanced diet will help protect you from infections, and being a healthy weight is good for your lungs.

Stop smoking – Stopping smoking is the most important thing you can do to protect your lungs. It is never too late to stop smoking. We can help you to stop smoking at your lung health check appointment.

Get coughs checked – If you have a regular cough, this can be an early warning sign of lung disease. Don’t ignore the signs and talk to your GP.

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