Inflatable lungs will be touring Bradford and Keighley in May. Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership is teaming up with Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation to help raise awareness of lung cancer screening.
The giant lungs will be inflated at Airedale Shopping Centre (BD21 3QQ) on 15 May, and Tesco Superstore Peel Centre car park (BD1 4RB) on 23 May. Healthcare professionals will be on hand to talk to you about lung health checks, as well as other lung health issues.
Lung health checks are being offered to smokers or ex-smokers aged 55-74 years old in Bradford District and Craven to help find any issues early, often before you notice anything wrong.
Following an initial phone call, those most at risk from lung cancer are then invited for a lung scan at a mobile CT unit in their local area. Events like this can help eligible people and their families understand more about screening, and why it’s so important to get checked.
Since the programme started in 2022, 70% of lung cancers diagnosed through lung cancer screening in Bradford District and Craven have been identified at stage 1 or 2. Before lung cancer screening was introduced lung cancers were diagnosed at a later stage – in 2020 70% of all lung cancers in England were diagnosed at stage 3-4. The ‘stage’ describes the size of a cancer and how far it has grown, with 1 being small and 4 large.
Jason Pawluk, Programme Director of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Cancer Alliance said “There are usually no signs or symptoms in the early stages of lung cancer, which is why screening can help to identify the cancer early, when treatment is more effective.
“We want to encourage as many people as possible to take up the offer of a lung health check and holding these events will help raise awareness of the programme in Bradford District and Craven and help to show people how easy the scan is. It could save your life.”
Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation will be at the stall to talk about the practical and emotional support they can provide to anyone who may have been affected by lung cancer.
Jackie Bell, Director for Access to Care at Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership, said: “Lung health checks are quite new, so it’s understandable that you may have some questions. Whether you’ve had an invite and been unable to attend, think you’re eligible and want to know more, or you’re worried about a friend or family member, our experts can help you – just look out for the inflatable lungs at Airedale Shopping Centre or Tesco Superstore in Peel Centre, they’ll be hard to miss.”
The roll out of the lung health check programme is being phased across GP practices, so not all practices will be involved at the same time. Anyone experiencing any of these symptoms should contact their practice.
- A persistent cough
- Coughing up blood
- Persistent breathlessness
- Unexplained tiredness and weight loss
- An ache or pain when breathing or coughing
- Repeat chest infections
- Cough that gets worse
- Hoarseness when talking
- Finger clubbing
- Chest or shoulder pain
For more information on lung cancer screening in Bradford District and Craven visit www.lunghealthcheckaware.co.uk.