Lung health checks save lives in Rotherham

SENIOR doctor Jason Page said having the lung check could prove life-saving and add years onto patients’ lives.

Dr Page, the clinical director for South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Lung Health Checks, said: “Having the lung health check and the CT scan provided by Alliance Medical allowed us to find early lung cancer and hopefully John will have many more years ahead of him.

“Lung cancer is very challenging to treat but with the availability of these CT scans we have found more than 140 patients with early stage lung cancer in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw over the last two years, potentially saving their lives as early cancer can be treated surgically with intention to cure.

“As well as lung cancer, we have found other cancers including breast and kidney cancers and lymphomas, all of which were not known about before the scan.”

In Rotherham so far, the team has completed almost 5,000 lung health checks, leading to around 2,300 CT scans.

The next patients to get their letters will be at the Health Village at Doncaster Gate, followed by those in the Maltby and Wickersley areas who will receive invites starting in August.

People in the south of Rotherham — including Thurcroft, Dinnington, Swallownest and Kiveton Park — are expected to be invited in November.

Dr Page added: “I hope that everyone invited takes part in this vital service.”

NHS advice says: “Those aged from 55 to 74 who smoke or used to smoke have a higher risk of developing lung cancer, so the NHS wants to check your lungs are working well.”