NHS lung health check ‘saved my life’ says Lancashire woman

A Lancashire woman believes the NHS Targeted Lung Health Check (TLHC) ‘saved her life’ after the free check found she had stage 2 lung cancer – despite no obvious signs of the disease.

Jasmine Bradbury, who is about to celebrate turning 75 on 10 September and is from Blackpool, was invited as part of a drive to screen former or current smokers aged between 55 and 74 for lung cancer earlier.

Despite being a long-time smoker, the former Lancashire Constabulary support worker had no symptoms but attended her check at Blackpool Sports Centre when invited.

Within weeks, Jasmine had been invited in for further tests and was having keyhole surgery to remove a stage 2 tumour from her left lung. Speaking about the scan, Jasmine said: “Thank goodness I didn’t say no when I was invited to take part. I might not be here now if I had.

“I had no symptoms and felt well so didn’t think there would be anything to worry about but after answering some simple questions, I was invited to the mobile CT scanner at Blackpool Sports Centre for a scan.”

“The sports centre was a ten-minute walk from my house, so it was simple and quick, but they rang me soon after to say I required further tests. It all happened quickly after that and within weeks I was having keyhole surgery to remove a stage 2 tumour from my left lung.

“I did worry a lot about the operation but the staff at Blackpool Victoria Hospital couldn’t have been nicer and more helpful. The food was lovely too - especially the puddings with custard!”

Described as an ‘MOT for your lungs’, the NHS Targeted Lung Health Check (TLHC) is currently available to residents in Blackpool, Blackburn with Darwen, and Rossendale who have been or are current smokers and aged between 55 and 74 in a bid to help diagnose more people with lung cancer earlier. The programme is also set to launch in Burnley in October.

The lung health check takes place in two stages. The first is an initial phone assessment with a specially trained health care professional. If the assessment finds the person to be at high risk, they are offered a low-dose CT scan of the lungs for further investigation.

Jasmine added: “Anything can be going on in our bodies, so for reassurance please say yes if you’re invited for a check. You have nothing to lose. I had no warning symptoms and yet there it was, growing inside me and I feel so lucky that they caught it and have given me a second chance.

“It saved my life.”

Jasmine did not require further treatment but has a quarterly CT-scan to check her lungs are in good order.

The TLHC programme in England has seen more than three-quarters (77 per cent) of cancers caught at either stage one or two, giving patients a much better chance of beating the illness. This compares to less than a third of cancers caught at either stage one or two in 2018.

Early diagnosis of lung cancer allows a much greater chance of long-term cure, compared to waiting for cancer to cause symptoms.

Lancashire and South Cumbria have one of the highest mortality rates for lung cancer in England and is one of the first areas in the UK to be offered this chance to diagnose early lung cancer.

Mr Manoj Purohit, lead thoracic surgeon in Lancashire and South Cumbria and consultant at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals said: “The Targeted Lung Health Check programme is effective in detecting lung cancer at early stages, often when there are no symptoms. Early detection means we are able to offer curative lung cancer surgery with minimal access, keyhole surgery, and most patients will require no further treatment.

“The programme is making a difference, but we need more people to be like Jasmine and take part when invited. It is free and will help us catch issues sooner when we can save lives.”

The programme is being rolled out in Burnley in October, with other areas of East Lancashire to follow.

For more information on the Targeted Lung Health Check programme, please visit: https://lungcheckslsc.co.uk/