Recognising the critical importance of early detection, the NHS has initiated a pioneering lung screening programme aimed at identifying lung cancer in its earliest stages among those at highest risk. This initiative represents a proactive approach to healthcare that could dramatically improve survival rates and quality of life for thousands of individuals.
The UK Lung Screening Programme is designed to target individuals who are at high risk of developing lung cancer, primarily due to a history of heavy smoking. The programme uses low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans, which are more effective in detecting early lung cancer than traditional x-rays. These scans can identify small nodules or lesions in the lungs that may indicate the early stages of cancer.
Smokers aged between 55 and 74 were assessed and invited for screenings and smoking cessation services. Based on statistics collected from the evaluation conducted in 2022, this programme was a huge success. Over a million invites were sent out to those aged between 55 and 75 across the UK, and 76% of lung cancers in those tested were caught at an earlier stage.
Yet, the question remains: how do you know who should go for a CT scan? We hope to provide medical professionals with a better understanding of this using our Lung Cancer Prediction model that takes a personalised approach to understand whether patients are at likely to develop cancer in the future.