Lung Cancer Pilot Programme Achieves Early Detection Before Symptoms

A new, €4.9 million lung cancer pilot programme, funded by the Irish Cancer Society, has led to patients being diagnosed at an earlier, treatable stage after having no symptoms. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the State, claiming more lives than breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer combined. Six in every 10 lung cancers are detected at a late stage, when it is harder to treat. The pilot programme was designed to identify lung cancer and other lung conditions before symptoms appear and so improve patient outcomes. In a clinical trial, individuals at a high risk of developing lung cancer were invited to attend community-based mobile scanning units for lung health checks in north Dublin and the northeast region. One of those patients who underwent curative lung cancer surgery via the Lung Health Check pilot was Paul Guinee (63) from Sutton, Dublin, who took part earlier this year. Mr Guinee, who recently retired, said he had “no issues” and “didn’t think there was anything wrong” before receiving an unexpected call inviting him for a CT scan. He said: “I had assumed it was because of my history of smoking, so I thought it was probably a good idea to attend.” Mr Guinee was subsequently diagnosed with Stage 1 lung cancer. He was told he would need surgery, and he went on to have a robotic operation on the 20th of October. “They were very happy with it. It hadn’t spread anywhere else. They got it at a stage where they could do something about it,” he said. Mr Guinee required no further treatment and said the process from first scan to surgery was positive. “It sounds like they saved me a lot of trouble a year down the road – something I may not have recovered from”, he said. Thoracic surgeon at St James’s Hospital Gary Fitzmaurice, who operated on several of the patients identified through the Lung Health Check pilot, said the programme is already demonstrating its value by identifying cancers before symptoms appear, allowing patients to access curative treatment. He explained that the big impact of the pilot is that cancers which would normally be detected at a late stage are instead found at a much earlier point. To date, based on figures still being collated, up to five such surgeries have taken place, with several more patients currently in the system, he said. Prof Daniel Ryan, respiratory consultant at the Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre and clinical lead of the Lung Health Check Pilot, said: “Leading a mobile lung health check in the community is a big step forward for lung cancer care in Ireland and we are proud to have initiated this work in Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre.”