Targeted Lung Health Checks

Targeted lung health checks are part of an NHS screening programme looking for early signs of lung cancer. The checks are available in some parts of the UK for people who may have a higher risk of lung cancer.

The targeted lung health checks screening programme is helping to find lung cancer earlier, sometimes before people have any symptoms. This means people can be treated more quickly, and treatment is more likely to be successful.

Targeted lung health checks are for people at higher risk of lung cancer. The NHS will invite you for a lung health check if you:

• are aged between 55 and 74 
• smoke or have ever smoked
• are registered with a GP
• live in a part of the UK where lung health checks are available. 

Make sure your GP knows that you smoke, or have ever smoked. If your GP doesn’t know this, you won’t get invited for your lung health check. 

If you think you should have been invited but have not received an invitation, you can contact the programme in your local area and ask for a referral. You can check to see if the programme is available near you on the NHS website. 

Your lung health consultation

The first part of a targeted lung health check is an appointment to talk to a healthcare professional, usually a nurse. This could be in person or over the phone.

They’ll check your height and weight, and ask some questions about your general health, medical history, family history, and smoking history,  including: 

• How much have you smoked and for how long? 
• Have you had any lung infections before, like pneumonia, tuberculosis (TB) or bronchitis? 
• Do you have any existing lung conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema? 
• Have you ever been exposed to asbestos? 
• Is there any history of lung cancer in your family? 

After this, you’ll either be told no further action is needed, or you’ll be booked in for a CT scan.  

Your lung health check CT scan

Not everyone is offered a CT scan. You’ll only be offered a CT scan if your consultation suggests you could be at a higher risk of developing lung cancer in the future.

If you need a CT scan, it could be on the same day or you may need a follow up appointment to have it on another day.

A CT scan can give a detailed picture of your lungs. 

Most people will not have lung cancer, or any other lung condition show up on the scan. For those that do, targeted lung health checks are making a big difference by picking things up early. This helps people to get an early diagnosis and makes treatment easier. 

We have more information about CT scans.

It could take up to four weeks to get the results back from your CT scan. Your results letter will tell you what needs to happen next. 

Your results may say that you have:

• nothing showing up on your scan
• signs of possible lung cancer
• nodules on your lungs
• scarring on your lungs
• signs of another lung condition
• other findings not related to the lungs. 

Nothing showing on the scan 

If nothing shows up in your scan, no further action is needed right now. You’ll probably be asked to come back for further routine screening every two years, until you are 75.

If you smoke, you may decide this feels like a good time to give up smoking.

Possible early signs of cancer

If your scan shows possible signs of lung cancer, you should be given an appointment with a rapid access lung clinic. You should get an appointment within two weeks.

The clinic can arrange tests quickly to help confirm whether or not you have cancer. Staff can also give you specialist support.

If your scan showed signs of lung cancer, you may feel worried and scared and wonder what happens next. Find out more about the support available for lung cancer. You can also call our Helpline.

We have lots of helpful advice about diagnosing lung cancer, and the treatments available.

Nodules on your lungs

You may be invited for follow up scans if you have small nodules in your lungs.

A nodule is a small lump which may show up on a CT scan as a white spot.

Small nodules are usually nothing to worry about, but it’s best to monitor them with follow up scans to check for any changes.

Scarring on your lungs

Your CT scan may show scarring on the lungs. Some people may need a follow up appointment with their GP who can arrange further testing if needed to see what’s causing it.

Other lung conditions

The  checks sometimes show up signs of other lung conditions. For example, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Other findings not related to the lungs

Sometimes the scan picks up other health issues not related to the lungs. 

For example, one of the more common findings is hardening of the arteries. This is when calcium has built up in the blood vessels in your heart. It’s known as coronary artery calcification.

If this shows up in your scan, your GP can give you support and advice to help you lower your risk from heart disease in the future.

You’ll get advice and support to give up smoking as part of your targeted lung health check. If you smoke, quitting smoking is the most important thing you can do to reduce your risk of future health problems.

We have lots of support and information about giving up smoking and how it can benefit your lung health.

You’ll also be offered stop smoking support and medicines as part of your lung health check. 

Whether your scan shows you have lung cancer, or you’ve been told you have another lung condition we’re here to support you. 

You can call our Helpline to speak to one of our respiratory nurse specialists.

We also have lots of expert information and advice about different lung conditions, and support groups to help you live well with your lung condition.