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The NHS England is rapidly expanding the targeted lung health check programme (TLHC) across England to detect lung cancers at an early stage. Launched in 2019, it is a national scheme that identifies people aged 55-74 at increased risk of lung cancer to invite them for a lung health check and chest CT scan, if appropriate. Since then, it has heled detect over 3,000 lung cancers, mostly at an early stage when the condition is more treatable, Dr Jason Page, Clinical Director of South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw targeted lung health checks, revealed in a blog on the NHS website. The decision to initiate the programme follows a study that showed CT screening reduced lung cancer mortality by 26 per cent in men and between 39 per cent and 61 per cent in women.

It is common knowledge that human happiness and well-being are dependent on good health. According to The American Lung Association (ALA) though, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death in men and women as well. Unfortunately, it seems we often overlook the importance of our lungs. We tend to forget that they are nature's natural defensive system designed to keep dirt and germs out. However, there are several crucial things you can do to lower your lung disease risk. Here are some valuable guidelines for keeping your lungs in good shape. 1. AVOID EXPOSURE TO POLLUTION 2. NO SMOKING! 3. KEEP AWAY FROM INFECTIONS 4. TAKE DEEP BREATHS 5. EXERCISE REGULARLY These are the most essential and valuable guidelines that you should follow if you want your respiratory system to be healthy. Along with proper exercise, maintaining a balanced diet, and keeping your mind in a healthy vigorous state, they should form the foundation for long and prosperous life. Let's always keep in mind the teachings of ancient Greek philosophers, like Hippocrates, who maintained the axiom "a healthy mind in a healthy body", and we'll always be on the right track.

A groundbreaking immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is being trialed in the UK for the first time, with the NIHR UCLH Clinical Research Facility (CRF) as the lead research site. Developed by German biotech firm BioNTech, the new vaccine, named BNT116, can prime the immune system to recognise and combat cancer cells. Janusz Racz, a 67-year-old lung cancer patient from London, was the first participant to receive this new vaccine. According to Siow Ming Lee, a UCLH consultant medical oncologist who is leading the national study, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, with an estimated 1.8 million deaths reported in 2020 "We are now entering this very exciting new era of mRNA-based immunotherapy clinical trials to investigate the treatment of lung cancer," he said. Supported by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at UCLH, the study aims to evaluate the safety and tolerance of the immunotherapy, its efficacy in targeting tumours on its own, and its potential to enhance the effectiveness of established chemotherapy or immunotherapy treatments.

AstraZeneca said on Thursday (June 30) that a combination of its cancer drug, Imfinzi, and chemotherapy showed promise in a late-stage trial in patients with an aggressive form of lung cancer, when given before surgery. Data showed the combination was more effective in removing cancer cells in tissue samples taken during surgery when compared with just chemotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, the drugmaker said. The interim result is a boost to the company's oncology efforts - a major area of focus - following disappointing data for Imfinzi earlier in the year in another area of therapy. AstraZeneca added the trial would continue as planned to assess the additional main goal of event-free survival, and the interim data would be shared with health authorities globally. Imfinzi belongs to the immunotherapy class of treatments, which boost the body's defences to fight cancer by using antibodies that block or bind to foreign substances in the body. The treatment generated $2.41 billion in 2021 sales.

The drug, 'durvalumab', can double the overall time someone can survive with an aggressive form of lung cancer from two-and-a-half to five years. It has been approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the NHS has sealed a deal with manufacturer AstraZeneca to begin rolling it out. The new treatment will be offered to more than 550 patients a year with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have already undergone both chemotherapy and radiotherapy concurrently. NHS said: "The drug can stop the cancer from getting worse for more than two years - significantly longer than treatment with a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which can only hold the disease at bay for around six months. This increases overall survival time and gives patients more precious moments with their loved ones." Dame Cally Palmer, national cancer director for NHS England, said: "We are resolute in our ambition to fight the devastating effects of cancer and new pioneering treatments like durvalumab are a vital lifeline for people living with cancer - giving them more precious time with family and friends.

'Tepotinib' has been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to patients with a specific gene mutation of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The new potentially life-extending drug is available from Thursday (14 April). It has been recommended for routine use across the NHS in England through Project Orbis, a programme to review and approve promising cancer drugs helping patients access treatments faster. NICE has published its final appraisal document recommending tepotinib (also known as Tepmetko and produced by company Merck Serono Ltd) as an option for treating advanced NSCLC with METex14 skipping gene alterations in adults. People with METex14 skipping alterations of NSCLC make up between 1-2% of all adults with lung cancer in England. Tepotinib, which requires people to take two tablets once daily, provides a new targeted treatment for adults with METex14 skipping gene alterations. Just over 700 people in England would be eligible to receive tepotinib as either a first or second-line treatment.

Thousands of lung cancer patients in England will benefit from a ground-breaking new drug that can reduce the risk of relapse. This follows a deal brokered by NHS England and approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for atezolizumab therapy to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). More than 850 patients are expected to be eligible for the drug in the first year, rising to more than 1000 in the third year. It is the first immunotherapy approved for patients with early-stage NSCLC who have undergone surgery and chemotherapy. Clinical trials have shown that atezolizumab can reduce the risk of cancer relapse or death by 34 per cent in patients with early-stage NSCLC.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has awarded marketing authorisation to CStone Pharmaceuticals for sugemalimab (Eqjubi) as a first-line treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the UK. NSCLC is the most common form of lung cancer, accounting for around 80 to 85 out of 100 cases. Sugemalimab is now approved as a first-line treatment, in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy, for adult patients with metastatic NSCLC who do not have EGFR-sensitive mutations or ALK, ROS1, or RET genomic alterations. This UK approval follows its recent authorisation by the European Commission, marking the second international approval for sugemalimab. CStone's CEO Dr. Jason Yang described the UK's approval as a significant milestone in their global expansion strategy. "Sugemalimab is the first domestic anti-PD-L1 antibody to receive approval outside of China and has already entered the world's second-largest pharmaceutical market, the EU. "Now, with the UK approval, sugemalimab continued to expand its presence in the European market. The long-term survival data, recently presented at this year's ESMO Congress, further confirmed sugemalimab's value in the frontline treatment landscape for metastatic NSCLC," he said.

Patients in Ireland with a specific type of lung cancer can now access Merck's TEPMETKO® (tepotinib) as a second-line treatment option, following its approval for reimbursement by the Health Service Executive (HSE). Tepotinib is the first treatment approved in Ireland specifically targeting advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor gene (MET) exon 14 (METex14) skipping alterations. Previously, the oral MET inhibitor had been approved in the NHS across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Patients with advanced NSCLC with METex14 skipping alterations typically have poorer overall survival rates compared to other NSCLC patients. According to Merck, tepotinib has shown consistent and durable antitumor activity in this group, as demonstrated in the VISION study, further cementing its role in clinical practice. Roisin Molloy, Managing Director of Merck Healthcare in Ireland, said: "This is an important step forward for targeted treatments in Ireland and it is fantastic news that the HSE has reimbursed tepotinib."

The journey for patients to quit smoking can be challenging, but with the right strategies and support, it is achievable. Smoking cessation is a critical step for patients towards improving overall health and well-being. We caught up with Thorrun Govind, pharmacist, TV health expert and pharmacy lawyer at Brabners for her top tips. Govind notes that smoking is a leading cause of preventable diseases and deaths worldwide. It is associated with numerous health issues, including lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Quitting smoking can significantly reduce the risk of these conditions and improve quality of life. Within weeks of quitting, individuals often experience improved lung function, better circulation, and enhanced sense of taste and smell. Govind advises that; After 20 minutes of quitting your pulse rate, will already be starting to return to normal. After 48 hours of quitting your carbon monoxide levels have dropped to that of a non-smoker. Your lungs are clearing out mucus and your senses of taste and smell are improving. After 1 year your risk of heart attack will have halved compared with a smoker's. This piece explores the various methods and benefits of smoking cessation.

Lung cancer is a significant health concern, and understanding its stages is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment planning.

COPD consists of multiple lung infections and is considered incurable by most physicians. Can timely diagnosis, on the bright side, slow down its progress?

COPD consists of multiple lung infections and is considered incurable by most physicians. Can timely diagnosis, on the bright side, slow down its progress?

NHS cancer check has set a new record, despite pressures on hospitals due to Covid-19, the number of people being treated for the cancer remained higher than before the pandemic, revealed NHS. Over the last 12 months almost three million people were referred for cancer checks which is up by over a tenth on the 2.4 million people referred before the pandemic. "Even at the peak of the Omicron wave, referrals for suspected cancer were at 116 per cent of pre-pandemic levels with around 11,000 people getting checked every day over the last year," said NHS. In order to meet increasing demand for cancer checks, NHS services across the country are expanding their diagnostic capabilities through one stop shops for tests, mobile clinics and cancer symptom hotlines, ensuring people are diagnosed and treated as early as possible to give them a much better chance of beating the disease. More than 30,000 people every month are being invited for lung cancer checks through NHS mobile trucks visiting at risk communities across the country, as part of the biggest programme to improve early lung cancer diagnosis in health service history.

Lung cancer is a significant health concern, and understanding its stages is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment planning.

Audio link How to know symptoms of Lung infection? What are the main effects and symptoms of the disease?

Audio link How to know symptoms of Pneumothorax lungs? What are the main effects and symptoms of the disease?

As Chair of the Council of Healthcare Professionals at Asthma + Lung UK, I'm deeply concerned about the invisible threat of air pollution on the health of our communities. It's a crisis that disproportionately affects the most disadvantaged, exacerbating health inequalities. Shockingly, for every 100 people who die from asthma in the UK, 31 are from the most deprived areas, compared to only 12 from the least. Studies have shown that the most economically disadvantaged are often those worst affected by air pollution, particularly because they often live near busy roads and yet are least likely to own a car. Wherever we live, the chance of breathing air that exceeds the World Health Organization's recommended pollution limits is alarmingly high. For the millions of Brits with lung conditions like asthma and COPD breathing in toxic air can harm their health and quality of life. Exposure to air pollution is directly linked to respiratory symptoms, hospitalisations, and the likelihood of developing respiratory diseases, even shortening life expectancy. Yet many people remain unaware of how much polluted air affects them. Often the first point of contact in healthcare, community pharmacists are well positioned to educate patients, especially those in polluted areas, about the impact of air pollution on their health.

More cancers are being detected earlier in England, thanks to a major drive by the NHS encouraging people, particularly those at higher risk due to hereditary or lifestyle factors, to come forward for potentially life-saving screenings. According to a new NHS analysis, early cancer diagnosis in England has reached its highest level ever. The NHS data of the most common cancers, including breast, prostate, and lung cancer, shows that almost three in five patients are now being diagnosed at stages one or two, when the cancer is more treatable. More than 58 per cent of all common cancers (206,038) diagnosed between September 2023 and August 2024 were identified at an early stage. This marks a 2.7 percentage point improvement compared to pre-pandemic levels, equating to an estimated 7,000 more patients being diagnosed at an early stage. The NHS has introduced initiatives like the Targeted Lung Health Check (TLHC) and Liver Health Programmes to detect cancers earlier.