Hundreds get earlier lung cancer diagnosis thanks to new screening scheme - including in Peterborough
More than seven hundred people in the East of England – including some in Peterborough – have had an earlier diagnosis of lung cancer thanks to the new lung cancer screening programme.
The NHS Lung Cancer Screening Programme (formerly known as Targeted Lung Health Checks when it was first introduced), is the biggest initiative in NHS history aimed at improving earlier lung cancer diagnosis. The programme is aimed at tackling health inequalities and first started in the region in 2019. Mobile scanning trucks would visit communities with the highest numbers of lung cancers diagnosed at a late stage.
The highest number of cases were seen in current and past smokers, so it was this group over the age of 55 and up to 74, registered with participating GP practices, who were invited for screening.
The East of England was one of the first regions to trial the programme, starting in a few local areas in 2019, with early sites including Thurrock and Luton. Fast-forward to 2026 and sites to date have included: Great Yarmouth, Luton, Lowestoft, Peterborough, Clacton, Huntingdon, Milton Keynes, Castle Point and Rochford, Southend, Thurrock, Bedford, Basildon and Stevenage.
East of England Cancer Alliance’s Assistant Director, Victoria Doyle said: “Being involved in this programme has been extremely rewarding for all the NHS staff involved, we have taken it from a few sites starting up in 2019, to being expanded across the region.
“It’s a huge initiative, with over 79,500 invites sent out last year (in 2024/2025) in the East of England region and 51,181 people having attended for appointments in the region this year (up to February 2026). Knowing that over 700 people have a much better chance of a successful outcome from their treatment because of the lung cancer screening programme is very rewarding.”
Lung Cancer Screening Programme Clinical Lead, Malcolm Lawson, said: “Each case of lung cancer detected early is potentially a life saved, and that is why we are so passionate about this project and keen for people to benefit. Lung cancer caught at an early stage is likely to be curable, whereas if it’s found at a late stage, which is what often happens without screening, the lung cancer is much harder to treat."