Local health leaders are encouraging anyone who has been offered an NHS lung health check, to book their appointment today on World Cancer Day (4 February).

The Lung Cancer Screening programme (formerly known as the Targeted Lung Health Check) is commissioned by NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB) and is offered to current and ex-smokers aged 55-74, a group at the highest risk of developing lung cancer.

The programme, which has already been taken up by 14,000 people locally, will be offered to a further 130,000 people in stages across Norfolk and Waveney. It has already shown remarkable impact with 89 lung cancers detected since it began, 65% of those at an early stage.

A lung health check is designed to find out how well someone’s lungs are working and to identify problems early. Most of the time no issues are found, but if cancer, lung or breathing issues are identified early, treatment could be simpler and more successful.

Individuals who are eligible for Lung Cancer Screening are proactively contacted to arrange their lung health check. The invitations are being sent out in stages, so please check if you have received it or wait to be contacted by the NHS.

There are two main stages to a Lung Cancer Screening – the first is an initial assessment with a health professional and the second, if necessary, is a scan of the lungs.

Dr Suzanne Phillips, Clinical Lead for Cancer for NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: “Lung cancer usually doesn’t have many symptoms in its early stages, so that’s why it’s important we proactively check people who might be at risk of developing it.

“We’ve already invited 32,000 people for their check, but we’d like to see more people taking advantage of this free and simple health screening, when they’re offered it.

“Around 1 in 13 people will get lung cancer in their lifetime and it’s the second most common cancer affecting men and women. The earlier we find any issues with your lung health, the more treatment options are available and the better we can support your health.”

It was first launched in Great Yarmouth and Gorleston in 2022, later in Lowestoft in 2023 and began rolling out wider to Norfolk and Waveney in 2025. These were the first areas to pilot this national programme as data shows people living there have a higher risk of lung cancer.

Locally, the programme is being delivered in Great Yarmouth and Gorleston by East Norfolk Medical Practice, in Lowestoft by Bridge Road Surgery in partnership with the James Paget University Hospital, and by TIC Mobile in partnership with the NHS in the rest of Norfolk and Waveney. Scans will be carried out where possible in community settings like supermarkets.

Invitations are based on your smoking history on your GP record so if you think this might be out of date, please let your GP know so they can update your record.

As part of the of the forthcoming National Cancer Plan, the government will scale the Lung Cancer Screening initiative into a full national screening programme by 2030, marking a major milestone in the drive to improve early diagnosis and save more lives.

By 2030 over 6 million people across England will have been invited and is expected to diagnose up to 50,000 cancers across the country.

You can find out more on the Lung Cancer Screening website. If you have any concerns about your lung health you should book an appointment to see your GP as soon as possible, please don’t wait to be invited to a Lung Cancer Screening.

For more information about Smokefree services, visit Smokefree Norfolk or Feel Good Suffolk.