Addressing Health Inequalities – The Manchester Lung Health Checks (LHC) pilot
The Lung Health Check (LHC) pilot brought lung cancer screening to some of the most deprived areas of Manchester. The disease is strongly associated with deprivation, and is the leading cause of premature death in the city.
The project:
In our Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Theme, researchers invited smokers aged between 55 and 74, who were registered at participating GP practices, to undergo a free lung health check. These were carried out in mobile screening units based in convenient community locations. This resulted in 4.4 per cent of participants being diagnosed with lung cancer – 80 per cent at early stage.
A researcher perspective:
The outcomes highlighted the critical need for this intervention, and by targeting those at greatest risk in deprived areas, we detected a three-fold incidence of lung cancers as compared to the international average.
Dr Phil Crosbie
Cancer Early Detection Programme Co-Lead
A participant perspective:
I was scanned on the Tuesday there and then I was sent a hospital appointment and attended within a week of my lung health check. I honestly feel as though this lung health check has saved my life.
Michael Brady
LHC pilot participant