Page 7 - 2016_Inspire_Autumn_Winter_FINAL.indd
P. 7
NHS Cancer Screening
NHS Cancer Screening
Could it work for lung cancer?
The NHS has three national screening programmes in If so, then surgeons can go ahead and remove ‘nodules’
place for cervical, breast and bowel cancer. It can be argued from the lung. A nodule is a small ‘spot’ of tissue, three
that these programmes are among the most significant centimetres or less in size. If a patient’s lung cancer is
achievements of the service since its creation in 1948. identified at an early stage, then the clinical outcome is
greatly improved. Individuals with very early stage disease
Breast cancer and cervical cancer screening became have up to a 73% chance of surviving for five years
available on the NHS in 1988. It has been shown that or more(4).
cervical screening saves 5,000 lives a year(1) while 1,300
fewer people now die of breast cancer in the UK(2). Bowel Professor John K Field, Director of Research for the
cancer screening has only been offered on the NHS since Roy Castle Lung Cancer Research Programme at The
2010, so it is too early to provide conclusive evidence on University of Liverpool, welcomes the initial result:
the success of this screening programme, but it is predicted
that it could help to save up to 2,000 lives per year by “The UKLS trial has successfully
2025(3). demonstrated that we have a way
to screen for lung cancer in high risk
So could lung cancer screening be the next cancer individuals in the UK. However, as UKLS
screening programme? was a pilot trial, researchers are currently
awaiting the outcome of the other
Before we answer this question, we need to consider screening trials, which will potentially
several key factors: Are the screening tests safe? Are the provide mortality data to argue for
results reliable? Who should be screened? And, ultimately, the implementation of a national lung
will it help save lives? cancer screening programme in the UK.â€
Here’s what we know so far... In the next edition of Inspire, we will bring you news
about some of the primary care pilot schemes that are
The UK Lung Cancer Screening Trial (UKLS) taking place across the UK. These will provide us with
more information on how screening could work at local
The UKLS trial was completed this year and concluded GP surgeries.
that patients with a high risk of developing lung
cancer can be identified with early stage disease. Mobile LDCT screening for lung cancer at local GP
Of these high risk patients, over 80% had a surgical surgeries would provide a more convenient, reassuring
intervention to prevent lung cancer. and accessible way to reach those most at risk, who are
also perhaps too nervous to come forward otherwise.
The study used a risk calculator to identify those at high
risk of getting lung cancer. Factors such as age and a If the impact of breast and cervical cancer screening
history of smoking were taken into consideration. Those could be repeated for lung cancer, then we would be
at high risk were then scanned using Low Dose Computed taking one of our biggest steps yet towards beating the
Tomography (LDCT). UK’s biggest cancer killer.
This scanning technique combines special x-ray equipment References:
with sophisticated computers to produce multiple, cross- (1) NHS Cancer Screening Programmes, Public Health England
sectional images of the inside of the body. LDCT uses less (2) (3) (4) Cancer Research UK
ionizing radiation than a conventional CT scan.
Autumn/Winter
Results from these LDCT scans then assist doctors to
decide whether surgery is a suitable option.
7
