People in Greater Manchester are being urged to “get curious” about their lung health this Pride month.
The NHS Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance has teamed up with OUTpatients, the UK’s LGBTIQ+ Cancer Charity, to raise awareness about NHS Lung Cancer Screening during the Pride season in the city.
Ezra Johnson from OUT Patients and Oliver Butterworth from Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance (left to right) centre join members of the NHS Lung Cancer Screening staff at their mobile clinic currently parked at Hazel Grove Park and Ride.
Research shows LGBTIQ+ people are more likely to smoke, and therefore need lung cancer screening. However, the community are also more likely to avoid seeking medical attention, even when unwell.
The Curious campaign is designed to break down these barriers, and make sure everyone can access this live saving service. Developed with input from members of the community across Greater Manchester, the campaign aims to spark people’s interest, and show that screening is quick, easy, and judgment free.
OUTpatients will attend various Pride events in Greater Manchester this summer starting with Salford Pride this weekend (13 June), as well as Stockport Pride and Wigan Pride with more dates to be added soon.
This eyecatching campaign will also be on display at prominent places around Manchester city centre’s gay village featuring on street advertising, drink mats and washroom posters.
Ezra Johnson, Communications and Public Affairs Manager at OUTpatients said: “Everybody should feel safe
and welcome in our NHS. But we know that LGBTIQ+ people can sometimes delay seeking care when we need it. This Pride month, we want to make sure everybody in the community knows that NHS Lung Cancer Screening services are here for them. Whether you still smoke, or gave up years ago, this appointment could save your life.”
In Greater Manchester, NHS Lung Cancer Screening is jointly organised by the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust with support from the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust.
It’s for people aged 55-74 who smoke or used to smoke. If you are eligible you’ll get an invite by post or text when a mobile clinic is visiting your area. The clinics are open from 8am until 8pm Monday to Saturday. If you can’t make your initial appointment slot you can rearrange at a more convenient time.
Oliver Butterworth, Senior Programme Manager at Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, said: “It’s been great to work with OUTpatients on this very important campaign. NHS lung health checks help the NHS to spot any lung cancer symptoms earlier, when it is much more treatable.
“When you’re invited, please do come along for your appointment. You’ll have a chat with a nurse and fill out a questionnaire to look at your risk. About half of the people who visit may also need a low-dose scan which we will also do on the truck.
“Most visitors to the lung health checks will get reassurance that everything is OK but it could save your life.”
So far more than 1,700 patients have been diagnosed with lung cancer as a result of the Lung Health Checks in Greater Manchester.Almost 80% of these patients were diagnosed at stage 1 or 2. People diagnosed with lung cancer at the earliest stage are nearly 20 times more likely to survive for five years than those whose cancer is caught late.
The NHS programme was specifically created to support people without lung cancer symptoms, but might still be at risk of developing the disease.
Among the symptoms of lung cancer are a persistent cough (lasting over three weeks), coughing up blood, chest pain/aches, breathlessness, and unexplained weight loss or fatigue.
If anyone has any concerns about or symptoms of lung cancer, they should visit their GP straight away and not wait for a lung health check.
For more information about the Curious About Your Lung Health campaign see: http://outpatients.org.uk/curious/
AstraZeneca has provided sponsorship towards this independent Programme and has had no involvement in its creation or organisation.
