Lung cancer: early detection programme expands in England

GP practices in England will be required to share data with the Lung Cancer Screening Programme so more current and former smokers aged 55–74 are invited for lung health checks, and officials say full roll‑out is expected to identify an additional 50,000 cancers by 2035.

Officials have announced that GP practices across England will be required to share data with the Lung Cancer Screening Programme so more people can be invited for lung health checks. The policy targets current and former smokers aged 55 to 74 and includes the option of low‑dose CT scans for many who attend. The article reports that early‑stage diagnosis rates have risen and that the programme is reaching more deprived areas. Key facts: - GP practices across England are to share data with the Lung Cancer Screening Programme. - Invitations are aimed at current and former smokers aged 55 to 74 for lung health checks, with many offered low‑dose CT scans. - Officials expect an additional 50,000 cancers to be detected by 2035 and report early‑stage diagnoses increasing from under one in three to three in four. Summary: The announcement describes an expansion of screening invitations and data sharing intended to increase early detection and reach communities with historically lower diagnosis rates. The article states the programme will move to full roll‑out and estimates an additional 50,000 cancer detections by 2035.