Medical Matters: What to look for when it comes to lung cancer

It has been another very busy spell for the Cancer Services Team here in Torbay and South Devon, with our focus being on launching our new lung cancer screening across the area.

Over the next two years, around 45,000 of you will receive a letter inviting you to be part of the screening process. But how did we select who to contact?

Initially, we are focusing on those aged 55 and 74 who have told their GP that they have ever smoked or are currently smokers; if you fall into that category, you will receive a letter from us.

After receiving a letter, the lung cancer screening process starts with a phone call with a medical professional who will ask you questions about your health. From there, we make a decision on if you will be invited for a lung scan at the mobile unit that is currently placed at Sainsbury’s car park near Penn Inn roundabout in Newton Abbot, which is operated by our partners at InHealth.

Our cancer specialists are reviewing these scans within 72 hours; if the results of the scan show signs of anything of concern, you may be referred for further diagnostic tests and treatment at hospital.

Screening programmes are absolutely vital in helping us detect cancer at the earliest opportunity. The earlier any form of cancer is detected, the better the outcome for the patient, as it gives us a better chance of achieving a cure.

As well as the lung screening we now have here in Torbay and South Devon, the NHS offers screening programmes to detect a range of cancers, including cervical, bowel and breast.

Late last year we celebrated 20 years of our breast screening service, and during this time, we have screened around 200,000 women and detected around 2,000 cancers; we are saving lives. Since the 1970s, deaths from breast cancer have reduced by 40 per cent in the UK thanks to increased awareness of the condition and the roll-out of the screening programme to aid early detection.

The bowel cancer screening programme has now also been expanded to offer screening to everyone from their 50th birthday. When this programme was initially launched in July 2006, it targeted only those aged 60–69 years. This expansion marks a significant advancement; however, uptake still remains lowest among those under 60. Please don’t ignore your invitation; it only takes a few minutes to complete the kit and send it back and could save your life.

Aside from screening, it is important to visit your GP if you have any new or concerning symptoms. Your GP can provide an initial assessment, offer advice and, if necessary, conduct preliminary tests.

Should they suspect cancer or require specialist advice, they can refer you to us. Our Trust received over 23,000 urgent suspected cancer referrals from our local GPs last year, and this number continues to rise.

Within the hospital and our community sites, we have experts in diagnosing and treating cancers of all types and in the areas of haematology, prostate, skin, breast care (which affects both men and women), colorectal and head or neck, to name but a few.

However, not all cancers present in a clear and defined way. To combat this, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust has launched a Non-Specific Symptoms (NSS) pathway. This pathway accepts referrals from GPs, providing a vital route for patients with concerning but non-specific symptoms to be assessed and diagnosed more quickly, supporting earlier detection of cancer.

Access to screening, fast diagnosis and early treatment all make a difference to people’s outcomes and experiences, especially in rural locations such as Torbay and South Devon.

I would encourage everyone to pay attention to any changes in your body, participate in screening, and please do not hesitate in seeking help and advice.

You can find out more about cancer services on our website.