Tenovus Cancer Care welcomes UK National Screening Committee review on screening for lung cancer

We welcome the long-awaited recommendation from the UK National Screening Committee on the introduction of lung cancer screening, something Tenovus Cancer Care has repeatedly called for.

Early detection is key to improving outcomes for people with lung cancer – which remains the biggest cancer killer in Wales. The clinical and financial benefits of screening are overwhelming, and Lung Health Checks will save hundreds of lives across the country.

However, we know deprivation is a key lung cancer risk factor and previous screening programmes have seen lower uptakes amongst these groups.

We cannot allow the deprivation gap to increase - it’s essential any programme is implemented in the right way with targeted campaigns to encourage people from these groups to take part. Our recent report explores the contributing factors to these disparities and makes tangible recommendations to consider.

As we look towards a future where lung cancer screening is made available in Wales, it’s vital to understand and address the causes of inequalities. Lung cancer isn’t a death sentence. We want to make sure as many people as possible are picked up early and nobody is left behind based on their socioeconomic circumstances.