The Lung Cancer Screening initiative by the North Central London Cancer Alliance marks a crucial advancement in the early detection and treatment of lung cancer. This program focuses on local residents aged 55 to 74 who are current or former smokers, aiming to uncover potential health issues at an earlier stage, which can lead to improved outcomes.

Invitation letters will be dispatched by University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) after relevant patient information has been gathered from each GP practice.

There are three main stages to the lung cancer screening programme:

CT scan – you’ll have a low-dose CT scan which takes a picture of your lungs.

Phone call – this is to check if you’re eligible for screening. We will ask you questions about your smoking, lung health and family medical history. If you’re eligible, we will invite you to attend a clinic appointment.

Clinic appointment – at this appointment, a nurse will measure your height, weight and blood pressure. They will also ask you more questions about your medical history. If you are at higher risk of lung cancer, we will invite you to have a CT scan. You can ask questions and the nurse will help you to decide if the scan is right for you. 

Appointments for the lung health check and CT scan will be held at University College Hospital, Finchley Memorial Hospital, The Community Diagnostic Centre in the Mall Wood Green.

For those eligible for a check, additional information is available on a dedicated website here. If patients have questions about the lung health check that aren’t addressed on the dedicated website or in their invitation letter, they can email uclh.ncllunghealthcheck@nhs.net or call 0800 652 9589.

Lung cancer often remains undetected in its early stages because it typically shows no signs or symptoms. Unfortunately, fewer than 20% of individuals diagnosed with lung cancer survive for five years or longer. Lung cancer screening aids in identifying cancer earlier, when curative treatments are more viable. So far, 80% of lung cancers detected through the lung cancer screening program have been at stage 1 or stage 2, compared to just 30% without such interventions.

• Our clinicians might engage in opportunistic discussions with patients who qualify for the lung cancer screening program to assist them in making informed decisions about attending their appointment when invited.
• Our staff will ensure patients’ smoking status is updated in their records, if it hasn’t been done already, as this is essential for sending invitations to eligible individuals.
• Our staff will encourage those eligible for a check to learn more about screening by sharing the Lung Cancer Screening website and pointing out posters in the practice.