'My cough wouldn’t go away - so I tried Leeds’ simple new way to get checked'
The warning comes as doctors say lung cancer is the biggest cause of cancer-based deaths in Yorkshire
When Christian Winter’s cough refused to go away, he could easily have put it down to a bug that just took a while to clear.
But after a friend told him about a pioneering Leeds service where people can request a chest X-ray without first seeing their GP, he decided to get it checked out.
He took just half an hour out of his day for the simple test - and thankfully to his relief there was nothing to worry about.
But for thousands of people across Leeds, that simple test, which helped to put Mr Winter’s mind at ease, could be much more significant detecting one of the region’s deadliest cancers.
He said: “It only took half an hour, which meant I could quickly step out of work to get it done. When I arrived, I filled out a form and everything was explained to me clearly.
“Everyone was really friendly and the scan itself took just a couple of minutes. I got a text with the results within a week. Fortunately, there was nothing of concern, but it was a weight off my mind. I think it’s a great idea – it’s really convenient and I’ve been telling everyone about it.”
Now a leading Leeds radiologist is now urging people not to ignore persistent symptoms, such as a cough, warning that lung cancer is the biggest cause of cancer-based deaths in Yorkshire, with deaths double those of breast and prostate cancer.
The self-request chest X-ray service is available for anyone over 40 who is registered with a Leeds GP and has had a cough, fatigue or tiredness, difficulty in breathing, loss of appetite or weight, chest pain, coughing up blood, or a lump in the neck, for more than three weeks.
Dr Bobby Bhartia is a Consultant Radiologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “When people think of lung cancer, they often think of smoking. What people don’t often realise is that smoking isn’t the only cause of lung cancer. In fact, one in seven people with lung cancer have never smoked.
“There is a stigma around smoking and its links to lung cancer which can make people with potential cancer reluctant to come forward and see their doctor for fear of being judged. It means getting people to come forward and get tested in the first place is one of our biggest challenges.”
“This reluctance to get tested is compounded by the fact that lung cancer doesn’t always cause symptoms at an early stage, or the symptoms might be non- specific and commonly seen, such as a cough.
“As a result, approximately three quarters of those diagnosed have late-stage lung cancer. A late diagnosis means treatment options are more limited, and survival rates are lower. Early detection is crucial in giving people with cancer the best chances of survival.”
People can walk in and get an X-ray, without an appointment, from Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, at Leeds General Infirmary, St James’s University Hospital, St George’s Centre in Middleton, Wharfedale Hospital and Chapel Allerton Hospital, and every day from 8am to 6pm at Seacroft Hospital.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals piloted the self-request service initially, testing over 12,000 people before it was paused during the pandemic. The service restarted again in 2023. In the last two years 3,000 people have come forwards to be tested.
The Leeds programme was the first of its kind in the UK, and has been hailed by national charity the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, which recommended the Leeds programme should be rolled out nationwide. Since the Leeds service was set up, similar services have been piloted in Manchester, Leicester, Newcastle, London and Birmingham.
Dr Bhartia said: “This is all about improving the early diagnosis of lung cancer. Often, the people who are affected the most are those who struggle the most to get help. By removing the barriers to get tested we’ve made it much more accessible for people to take the opportunity when they can. Earlier detection means we can give people the best chance of beating this disease.”
He added: “I want everyone in the Leeds area to know this service is here for you and I’d encourage anyone to get a chest X-ray if you need one.”