People in Merseyside and Cheshire are having their cancer detected at a much more treatable stage thanks to a number of targeted checks.
The success of the Targeted Lung Health Checks programme and other projects has seen Cheshire and Merseyside rise from below the national average for early detection of cancer five years ago, to above it.
Cheshire and Merseyside is ranked 8th for the early detection of cancer – a remarkable turnaround since 2018 when the region was ranked 20th out of 21 cancer alliances in England.
One of the factors behind the region’s success is the Targeted Lung Health Checks, which sees specially adapted lorries visit communities to perform quick and easy checks.
Since its launch in 2019, more than 560 cancers have been detected in Liverpool, St Helens, Halton, Knowsley and South Sefton, with 80% of those being discovered at an early, more treatable stage.
The checks, which launched in Wirral and Warrington last summer, will cover the whole of Cheshire and Merseyside by 2027.
Recent figures show that more than more than 5,000 cancers have been found through the national Targeted Lung Health Check programme, with more than 10% of those being found in Cheshire and Merseyside.
Other programmes which have helped detect cancer much earlier include the introduction of faster diagnosis services in a number of trusts which speed up tests and referrals, and the launch of ten Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) across the region.
Cheshire and Merseyside’s CDCs have delivered over 785,000 additional diagnostics tests, with many located near or on the same sites as local hospitals or in the community such as the shopping centre setting at the Halton Health Hub.
Professor Rowan Pritchard Jones, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s Medical Director, said: “Regular checks and screenings are vital for effective cancer treatment, as early detection enables timely intervention and greatly improves patient outcomes.
“Each check represents an opportunity to catch cancer early, sometimes even before symptoms develop. This can be life-changing for patients and their families.
“Cancer found at an earlier stage is often much easier to treat and, in many cases, can be completely cured. This highlights the critical importance of initiatives like the Targeted Lung Health Checks.”
Jon Hayes, Managing Director of Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance (CMCA), said: “Diagnosing cancer as early as possible means that it can be treated more successfully.
“The Cancer Alliance is leading a number of projects to improve early diagnosis, including working with the public to raise awareness of the signs of cancer, and supporting clinicians to diagnose and treat patients more quickly.”