On Wednesday 25 June 2025, the South East London Cancer Alliance will join the lung cancer charity Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, to deliver a letter to 10 Downing Street, calling on the government to keep lung cancer screening on the national agenda.
Lung Cancer Screening looks at how well a person’s lungs are working and can help diagnose lung cancer as early as possible.
The latest NHS data shows that more than 5,000 lung cancers have now been found through the Lung Cancer Screening programme since its launch in 2019.
Data also shows that more than three-quarters (76%) of the lung cancers identified by the programme were found at the earliest stages of one and two, when it is more treatable.
The charity will also be joined by patients and healthcare professionals across the NHS to highlight the incredible impact of screening and deliver a letter calling for:
- The inclusion of lung cancer screening within the National Cancer Plan to honour the NHS England target of full roll out by March 2030
- Long-term commitment to lung cancer screening by placing it alongside the current cancer screening programmes, with funding administered through the section 7a agreement of the NHS Act.
If you're aged between 55 and 74 and have ever smoked, you may be offered a Lung Cancer Screening appointment.
Find out more about the Lung Cancer Screening service in South East London and if you’re eligible here: https://www.sel-lunghealthcheck.nhs.uk/