Lung cancer screening in England: lung health checks and low-dose CT for ages 55 to 74

The NHS says lung cancer screening aims to find lung cancer early, sometimes before symptoms, and that early diagnosis can make it more treatable. Cancer Research UK explains that lung screening had not been offered before in the UK because the evidence was not clear, but pilots (previously called Targeted Lung Health Checks, started in some areas of England in 2019 and Wales in 2023) and other studies have shown that screening people at high risk saves lives and that the benefits outweigh the harms.

It adds that lung cancer screening will not prevent you getting cancer; it aims to find it early when the chance of cure is best.

According to the NHS, you are eligible if you live in an area where lung health checks are offered, are aged between 55 and 74, are registered with a GP surgery, and are a current or former smoker. You may be contacted by your GP or a local NHS service. Services are being rolled out starting in areas with higher lung cancer rates, with new locations added regularly, and the NHS page links to regional lists of services.

If you smoke or used to smoke and your GP record does not show it, the NHS suggests asking the surgery to update it so you are invited when the service reaches your area. If you think you should have been invited, you can contact your local area, though it may not be available yet. Cancer Research UK says experts in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are still deciding how best to roll out screening, and that the Welsh pilot has finished.

The NHS says the appointment may be in person, by phone or online. A health professional asks about your breathing, lifestyle, and family and medical history, and takes height and weight measurements. Cancer Research UK says the details differ in each area, so read your information leaflet and use the phone number provided for questions; tell them if you have difficulty with phone or video appointments.

The NHS says one of three things then happens: no further action if you are not at higher risk; referral to your GP if breathing or lung health problems are found; or an offer of a CT scan if you are at higher risk. Current smokers are offered stop-smoking advice.

The NHS says the scan may be done in a mobile unit in the community, such as in a supermarket car park, or at a local hospital. It does not hurt, and you receive a letter with results within 4 weeks. Cancer Research UK says a radiologist looks for anything abnormal, and you might have more tests if the scan shows something, or be referred to a specialist if cancer is possible. If you are older or less mobile, ask about the location and access when you are invited.

Cancer Research UK says there is evidence that screening based on risk saves lives, and that diagnosing lung cancer early means treatment is more likely to work. It also lists risks: each CT scan exposes a person to a small amount of radiation, and frequent scans might cause lung damage; screening does not always find a cancer that is there (false negative); it may pick up something that is not cancer (false positive), leading to further scans or a biopsy and anxiety; and it can find cancers that would never have caused problems (overdiagnosis), so some people have treatment they did not need.

It stresses that whether to attend is your choice, and suggests reading the invitation information and talking to your GP or nurse. For an older person with other health problems, it is reasonable to ask how fit you would need to be for treatment if cancer were found, since screening is useful mainly when treatment would be possible.

The NHS says not to wait for a lung health check if you have symptoms: a cough that does not go away after 3 weeks, an existing cough that changes or gets worse, chest infections that keep coming back, coughing up blood, being short of breath a lot, unexplained tiredness, an ache or pain when breathing or coughing, or loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss. Cancer Research UK likewise says to tell your doctor about a new cough or one most of the time, or getting out of breath doing things you used to do without trouble. Screening looks for early signs before symptoms, so symptoms mean an appointment with the GP rather than waiting for an invitation.