Invitation to Lung Cancer Screening

[sallyluyah]

Just got this NHS letter. Asks if I've ever been a smoker and are between 55 and 74. Can't say I have really smoked...an odd cigar asides however grew up in the days of very smoky pubs.

I think all screening is good. Will they accept me if I tell them about the smoky pubs or should I just answer yes that I've smoked (cigars) although I've never put this on my medical records.

I would say yes - as if you are asked the question "Have you ever smoked?" You might reply "I used to smoke but I don't now".

It's probably been sent to everyone in that age range - so perhaps others can comment on if this is a routine thing?

I haven't had an invitation to lung cancer screening - I wonder if it's only in certain areas. I used to smoke until 16 years ago, I worked in smoky pubs for more than 10 years, and I'm in that age range. I have also had breast cancer so I would leap at the chance to have lung cancer screening.

I put "no, but both parents did" on my form. Was given a date for the xray and had it done. I think that age range is selected as we all grew up in an age where smoking was common and anyone who used public transport, went to pubs, cafes etc was exposed to 2nd hand smoke on a regular basis.

I'm in that age range but haven't had that invitation.

Can't say I have really smoked...an odd cigar

Smoking is smoking- even if rarely. I used to have to calculate pack years at a medical facility and a cigar is equivalent to 3-4 cigarettes.

So yes, you should go for the screening and say yes, I used to smoke cigars between 1989-1991 approx 1 a month or whatever.

I've not had that letter (am 70) but then I've never smoked and hopefully that should be on my record.

NHS says: "If you're aged between 55 and 74 and have ever smoked, you may be given the opportunity to take part in lung cancer screening, with a lung health check." Seems to be in the process of being rolled out across England.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-lung-cancer-screening-roll-out-to-detect-cancer-sooner

Is a good thing!

I wouldn't lie and say I'd been a smoker when I haven't in case it goes on my medical records and causes issues later with things like insurance.

I had that letter and the over the phone assessment. In spite of being an ex smoker I didn’t qualify apparently. I was surprised to be honest.

It is on my medical records that my parents both smoked and I did have pneumonia in my 20's so that may be why I was invited to the screening.

Yeah I wouldn’t lie either.

I am a smoker. I have had screening. But even I am nervous about that because blasting X-ray at your lungs also has a cancer risk.

Seems funny to be worried about that when a smoker but I don’t want to add another risk to a precarious situation. Very rare. For me it makes sense as more likely to pick up smoking cancer than to cause cancer. But for non smokers that risk calculation is not the same.

I just looked it up and 6 in 1000 cancers are from radiation. So on a national level you don’t want to be xraying everyone for no reason.

I had it as a text message, but I assume I wasn’t eligible because I’ve never smoked. I guess the letters might go to those with relevant details in their medical records.

I got the letter and I've never smoked a cigarette in my life, it can only have been aged based at least for my surgery, I threw it away

Thanks for all the info. I will be honest (to a point as I agree about the insurance bit) and say that both my parents smoked. My dear old mum never forgave herself for doing that infront of her children. She was very ashamed that when we were little we would all be in the car and she would be smoking. It was just what was done then.

I received the letter and rang them to get myself taken off the list as I've never smoked. The man said "Not even a single cigarette when you were a teenager?" and I said no, as I never have. So a "single cigarette" was evidently enough to qualify.

All adults within that age range living in areas where the lung health check is rolled out, will be sent that letter via lists provided by their GP. If you have ever smoked then you are eligible to attend for a lung health check. The first part of this screening involves a trained nurse completing a questionnaire with you that covers your smoking history, medical history particularly respiratory conditions, family history of cancer, particularly lung, environmental exposure etc. Once the questionnaire is complete a score and level of risk is determined based on current evidence for risk factors. If you are considered to be at higher risk you will be offered a low dose CT scan to look for any signs of cancer. This is not the same as a chest X-ray. If you are not considered to be at higher risk then you do not get a scan.
Your history of cigar smoking suggests that you should go for the health check and then the professionals can decide whether or not you are at risk. A history of passive smoke alone does not qualify for screening.
For anyone feeling anxious about why they are invited, please don’t be, most people only go as far as the questionnaire, only those considered to be at higher risk have the scan and this is relatively low risk too as a one-off. If anyone does unfortunately find a lung cancer then the screening often finds this in its early stages if the person was not showing any physical signs of illness and this is most often treatable. We are very lucky to have such proactive health screening in this country, and all for free. Hope this helps.

I'm a 15 a day smoker and have been for years. I did the telephone assessment and I was told I didn't meet the threshold for a CT scan, even though I have a persistent cough. The nurse advised me to speak to my GP about the cough and that I may be offered a further screening in a few years. They have also referred me to our local stop smoking service, which I'm engaging with again for (hopefully) the last time. I've also started reading Allen Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking. It's definitely a good thing, even if you've never smoked it's worth doing. I know of a few lifelong non-smokers who have had lung cancer, unfortunately. I'm hoping to kick the habit for good this time.

Surely everyone over 30 effectively smoked as a kid? Places were literally blue with smoke up until the mid noughties. If you were in those places/in homes or cars where everyone smoked, isn't that worse than a person who smoked the occasional cigarette? Plus a lot of people will have had UPFs which apparently are a risk.
I wouldn't want to lie, though. And couldn't it be a risk for travel/health insurance etc, if they found on medical records that you said you were a smoker when you weren't?

I've not heard about this, is it only certain areas for now?

My dh answered yes because he did smoke, had a call from the nurse who asked when he stopped and how many a day etc and they didn’t offer further screening

My neighbour went along for the screening and found she had the early stages of lung cancer, she had no symptoms whatsoever so obviously it was a shock
Shes had surgery and will 100% recover

I never did, it was precisely that horrible smokey smell in your hair and on your clothes that repulsed me, I wouldn't even try smoking. It really isn't that appealing.