A national lung cancer screening program has won the backing of the UK’s National Screening Committee, marking a historic moment in the fight against the disease.
The Committee has recommended the introduction of targeted screening using low dose computed tomography (CT) for those at greatest risk of lung cancer: 55 to 74-year-olds with a history of smoking, alongside integrated smoking cessation services.
The screening program is likely to ensure that more lung cancers are diagnosed at an earlier stage, potentially saving thousands of lives, experts said.
The much anticipated news was met with great enthusiasm:
We’re delighted that the UK National Screening Committee has recommended a nationwide lung cancer screening programme. This is fantastic news which hopefully lead to many thousands of patients surviving lung cancer through earlier diagnosis and treatment. pic.twitter.com/HTcVKmAd9T
— Leeds Lung Health Check (@LungHealthCheck) September 29, 2022
The introduction of targeted lung cancer screening across the 4 nations really is a tremendous step forward – reasons to be optimistic and celebrate – this will save thousands of lives each year https://t.co/CpHpj1tZKE
— Charles Swanton (@CharlesSwanton) September 29, 2022
And earlier this year, Professor Matthew Callister told delegates at the BTS Summer 2022 meeting that the go-ahead for a national, targeted lung screening program would mark “the second most important intervention in the history of lung cancer in this country”, as previously reported by the limbic.
The scene is set but government support is needed
The groundwork for the program has already partially been set; targeted Lung Health Checks (TLHC) are already being piloted in many areas in England, and thus provide “a practical starting point” for implementation of targeted lung cancer screening programs across the country, the NSC noted.
However, successful, nationwide implementation of screening will require further work to refine the NSC’s recommendations and also determine optimum protocols, noted Mike Harris, UK NSC head of public and professional engagement, information and knowledge.
Also, the program will need government support.
The Lung Cancer Coalition has urged the Department for Health and Social Care “to take steps as quickly as possible to introduce national lung cancer screening throughout England”.
“We strongly believe that the implementation and roll-out of a screening program will do more to improve lung cancer survival than any other single intervention. It will also be a major step to achieve the NHS target to diagnose 75% of all cancer at stage I or II,” the group wrote in a letter to health secretary Dr Thérèse Coffey.
It also called for the program to be backed up by “a robust, accurate, standardised reporting system”, with a national multi-disciplinary steering committee to oversee it, and noted that while uniformity in many aspects of the service will be a necessity, there will also need to be “some tailoring according to local population and service needs”, to “help ensure that there is equal access and opportunity for those people in the more deprived socioeconomic groups where lung cancer is more common – as well as those in rural areas”.
The Coalition also reminded the health secretary that an adequate workforce will be critical to delivering the program successfully, which is particularly pertinent given that a recent Health and Social Care report estimated that the NHS is short of nearly 2,000 radiologists.
“However, a high-quality program also requires considerable commitment from other clinical staff, notably respiratory physicians and those responsible for treatment with curative intent. In addition, admin staff at all levels are required for running and managing the program,” it stressed.