Targeted Lung Health Checks

Early stage lung cancer often shows no signs or symptoms, leading to late diagnoses and reduced chances of successful treatment. Approximately 7 in 10 lung cancer patients are diagnosed too late to be cured.

Targeted Lung Health Checks help detect potential issues early, often before any symptoms appear. Early detection means simpler and more successful treatment, ultimately saving more lives.

GP Primary Choice Ltd have commenced a pilot in 8 GP Practices in Clacton. This will be rolled out to the remaining 24 practices in North East Essex in a phased approach over the next 2 years.

Doctor consulting with patient presenting results on x-ray film

What is a Targeted Lung Health Check?

A Targeted Lung Health Check is a two-stage process designed to assess the health of your lungs.

  • Initial Assessment: You’ll have a phone call or meeting with a health professional to discuss your breathing, overall lung health, lifestyle, and family and medical history.
  • Possible outcomes: Offer of a lung scan: If you’re identified as someone with a higher chance of developing lung cancer, you’ll be offered a quick scan to check your lungs.
  • No problems found: If no issues are identified, you won’t need a lung scan.
  • Referral to your GP: If any problems are found, you may be referred to your GP or another specialist.
  • Lung Scan: If required, you’ll be invited to have a quick scan of your lungs using a special CT (Computed Tomography) scan. This scan provides a detailed picture of your lungs.
male doctor giving advice and medical informations and diagnosis

Why You’ve Been Invited

  • People aged 55 to 74 who smoke or used to smoke have a higher risk of developing lung cancer.
  • We want to ensure your lungs are healthy.
  • Issues are rarely found, but if identified, we can act quickly and provide treatment.
  • Attending a lung health check is entirely your decision.

Why Early Diagnosis Makes a Difference

Early detection allows for more focused and successful treatment.

You are three times more likely to be diagnosed at an early stage through a lung scan.

Small and early lung cancer can often be completely removed or treated with radiotherapy.

Screening for lung cancer using CT scans can reduce the risk of dying from cancer by around 25%.

computed tomography (CT) scan of the lungs with pneumonia

What is Lung Cancer?

  • Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, often showing no signs or symptoms in its early stages.
  • Early detection through a low-dose CT scan greatly improves treatment success rates.

Lung Cancer Symptoms

  • Persistent cough or change in your normal cough
  • Loss of appetite
  • Chest pain when breathing or coughing
  • Unexplained tiredness or weight loss
  • Shortness of breath
  • Coughing up blood

What You Need to Know About Lung Scans

The low dose CT scan exposes you to a small amount of radiation, equivalent to about one year’s worth of radiation from the natural environment.

The overall risk of these CT scans causing cancer remains very low compared to the benefits of early cancer detection.

a doctor showing a x-ray of a patient

Additional Support

  • CT Scans are conducted at the Community Diagnostic Centre at Clacton Hospital or Colchester Hospital.
  • Interpreting and translation services are available through DA Languages, including telephone interpreting, face-to-face interpreting, British Sign Language (BSL) interpreting, and document translation.
  • If you smoke and want to quit, there are free, friendly, and local stop smoking services available. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions.