A NATIONAL lung cancer screening programme could become a reality, it was revealed last night, as a Liverpool charity undertakes a study into its feasibility.
Professor Ray Donnelly, founder and president of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation says such a step was once a “pipe dream” but is now a real possibility that would save thousands of lives.
The charity is beginning a study to assess the practicality of a UK-based screening trial (UKLS) for the disease, which will be led by the director of its research programme, Professor John Field, at the University of Liverpool.
Prof Donnelly said last night: “A screening programme would save thousands of lives because early detection of lung cancer is key.
“Survival rates for the disease currently stand at 5% after five years, but, in cases where the disease has been caught early, the survival rates jump to 80%.
“Screening was just a pipe dream when we started out, but now it looks as if it will come about.”
News RSS Feed