Spire Bushey Hospital launches lung cancer screening service
31 January 2020
Spire Bushey Hospital has announced the launch of a new one-stop lung cancer screening service, giving people at high risk of developing lung cancer the opportunity to catch signs of the disease at the earliest possible stage.
Led by an award-winning team; Consultant Chest Radiologist Dr Sam Hare and Consultant Chest Physician Dr Dean Creer, the new service will help detect lung cancer spots (nodules) in their earliest, most curable stage, before they have had an opportunity to spread. This quick, non-invasive test identifies small lung nodules, not able to be detected on traditional chest X-rays, using a low dose CT scan with only a fraction of the radiation dose of a standard chest CT scan. It has been shown that annual lung cancer screening can save lives, finding 85-90% of lung cancers in their earliest stage.
Dr Hare explains:
“Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in the UK* and over 80% of patients are diagnosed when the cancer is more developed, after reporting symptoms, when chances of a cure are much smaller.
“Screening is most useful for those at an increased risk of developing lung cancer. This includes not only current smokers, but those who have stopped smoking within the last 15 years and those with a family history of lung cancer.”
If a lung nodule is detected, a CT-guided lung biopsy may be recommended to analyse the tissue and determine the most appropriate treatment.
Lisa Trybus, Hospital Director at Spire Bushey Hospital said:
“We are delighted to offer our patients this new service. With our dedicated Elstree Cancer Centre, and the extensive facilities at our hospital, we are well equipped to support patients from screening, through any treatment required and into recovery and beyond.”
Bringing a wealth of experience with them, Drs Hare and Creer were recently awarded the inaugural NHS Innovation Challenge Prize for Cancer for their innovative work on early lung cancer diagnosis and better patient outcomes. Lung cancer screening at Spire Bushey Hospital costs £499 and includes clinical consultation and a low-dose CT screening scan.
For more information please visit http://www.lungcancerscreening.co.uk/