Looking After Your Lungs
What is lung cancer?
Stay smoke-free
The Government has announced that the NHS will roll out lung cancer screening across England. Currently, lung health checks are only available in some parts of England. They will be available everywhere by 2029. In SWAG Cancer Alliance areas, we are offering lung health checks first in areas that have been identified as high in need. The identified practices have been selected using a range of indicators, including lung cancer incidence and deprivation indexes, to make sure the Lung Health Checks are delivered to people who will benefit the most from them.
We know that there will be people who live outside of these areas who may benefit from a Lung Health Check, and we plan to offer Lung Health Checks to everyone who meets these criteria across Somerset, Wiltshire, Avon and Gloucestershire in the next few years. So, if you are not invited initially, you will be soon.
If you are not invited, there are several things you can do to look after your lung health in the meantime.
The single best thing you can do to prevent lung cancer is to abstain from smoking.
If you do smoke and would like to stop, there is free, local and expert support available. You are three times more likely to quit smoking with help from a Stop Smoking Service.
Contact your local stop smoking service. See contact information below:
Bath and North East Somerset:
Stop Smoking - Everyone Health Bath & North East Somerset
To find out more and join our service call either number on 0333 005 0095 or 0300 303 7050
Bristol:
Bristol's stop smoking service
call: 0800 772 3437, 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday
text: QUIT to 66777
Gloucestershire:
https://hlsglos.org/referral/
Or call: 0800 755 5533
North Somerset:
Stop Smoking | Better Health North Somerset
Text HELP to 07860 025 750
01275 546744
Somerset:
Smokefree Somerset
Phone: 01823 356222. Available 9am to 5pm
Email: smokefree@somerset.gov.uk
South Gloucestershire:
Get support to stop smoking | One You South Gloucestershire
Text your name and the word “READY” to 80011
Call us on 01454 865337
Wiltshire:
Smokefree Wiltshire - Wiltshire Council
Call 0300 003 4566 (Select Option 1)
Email health.coaches@wiltshire.gov.uk
Other regional services
A similar programme is taking place in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. See Peninsula Cancer Alliance’s website for more information:
Smokefree Cornwall - Healthy Cornwall
https://www.healthycornwall.org.uk/make-a-change/smokefree-cornwall/
Onesmallstep Devon
Livewell Dorset
https://www.livewelldorset.co.uk/stop-smoking/
Livewell Swindon
Get a cough checked
We understand that some symptoms of lung cancer are similar to the symptoms of COVID-19. It is important to keep an eye out for anything that is unusual for you. If you notice any of the following and have tested negative for COVID-19, please contact your GP as soon as possible.
- Unexplained persistent cough
- Unexplained persistent breathlessness
- Fatigue lasting four or more weeks
- Persistent or recurrent chest infection
- Unexplained weight loss
- Appetite loss
Useful links to other NHS websites and national charities with further information on lung health:
- https://www.roycastle.org/- A national charity dedicated to supporting people with lung cancer and funding research into the condition.
- https://www.blf.org.uk/ - A UK wide charity providing help for people affected by a lung condition, funding for research into different lung conditions and running national campaigns on raising awareness lung conditions and their causes.
- https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/copd - A link to the British Lung Foundation Website with lots of information on COPD.
- https://www.macmillan.org.uk/ - The national charity that supports people affected by cancer, including lung cancer.
- https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/- A charity that funds research into cancer and potential treatments.
- https://www.longtermplan.nhs.uk/- Sets out the NHS' plans for the future, including a commitment to diagnose more cancers earlier.
- Want to know more about the DART project aims and objectives? | DART (dartlunghealth.co.uk)- DART is using data collected by the NHS Lung Health Check programme to develop and validate Artificial Intelligence to more accurately and quickly diagnose lung disease.
