Lung cancer remains one of the major causes of cancer related deaths across the world including the United Kingdom. About 72% of lung cancer cases in UK are caused by smoking. Lung cancer becomes deadly because patients are often diagnosed when the disease has already become severe. At later stages, it becomes difficult to successfully cure it. The earlier lung cancer gets diagnosed, the more are the chances of the survival. Each year, over 48000 new lung cancer cases are reported which is an alarming number. Most lung cancers develop in the airways but they can also start in the lung tissue. The primary lung cancer starts in the lung and gradually spreads to other parts.
The health officials in the United Kingdom are recommending that people above the age of 55 who have smoked a cigarette even once in their lifetime should be checked for lung cancer. The UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC) has made this recommendation to help fight against this deadly disease. These new guidelines have called for mass introduction of checks for all present and former smokers who are between the ages of 55 and 74. The successful screening programmes are already running for breast, bowel and cervical cancers which help in saving lives of thousands of people each year.
These guidelines for lung cancer scan are under recommendations from government advisers. They are planning to offer a low dose CT scan for anyone deemed at high risk of lung cancer. The independent body of experts who review evidence have advised on screening programmes. The heath professional would ask questions to see if people are at high risk of lung cancer. A statement from Cancer Research UK said, “A low dose CT scan helps to check for changes in the lungs that may be lung cancer. The scan uses x-rays and a computer to create detailed pictures of the lungs from different angles to form a 3D image.”
The information shared in this blog is for educational purposes only. You should always consult your healthcare professional for any medical issues.
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