Picture of Ken Roberts wearing a blue zip up collared jumper and glasses.

A Bolton manufacturing company director is urging everyone who gets invited to NHS lung cancer screening to make sure they attend – after he nearly missed his appointment which went on to show he had lung cancer.

Ken Roberts is now doing well after his surgery.

Ken Roberts, 73, from Ladybridge, Bolton, was invited for a free lung health check when the mobile unit was parked at Morrisons in Bolton, earlier this year.

The granddad-of-five had no symptoms so initially thought he wouldn’t go, but luckily he changed his mind and went for the appointment. Now he’s encouraging others who get an invite to go – even if they feel fine.

Lung cancer screening is available for people who smoke or who used to smoke aged 55 to 74 and is currently being rolled out across Bolton and Greater Manchester. If you are eligible for the screening, you will get an invite in the post and via text message when the mobile clinic comes to your area. The mobile clinic will move to serve residents from Turton, Bolton, from Monday 3 November 2025 when it will be based at Castle Hill Centre, Castleton Street, Tonge Moor, Atherton, Bolton, BL2 2JW from 8am until 8pm Monday to Saturday until late November.

Ken said:

“I ummed and ahhed about whether to go as I felt fine. I didn’t have any symptoms. But then in the end I went because it was so convenient, and I could park really easily!

“I answered the health questions with a nurse and then they offered me a scan on the truck that same day which I had too.”

A mobile clinic labeled "Targeted Lung Health Check Programme" operated by NHS Greater Manchester, parked in an empty parking lot under a partly cloudy sky. The clinic's slogan is "Catching lung cancer early can make a big difference.

A few days later Ken got a phone call asking him to go for a further scan at Wythenshawe Hospital. It was here after some further the checks that a consultant told they believed he had stage 1 lung cancer.

Ken said:

“They explained what would happen next and what the options were.

“I went to Oldham for a PET scan and then to Wythenshawe for a biopsy. This confirmed it was lung cancer, but it had been found at an early stage – stage 1 – and was treatable with surgery. I had my operation 11 July 2025. I opted to have Robotic-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery. I feel incredibly positive about my outcome as it’s been found so early.

“I’m amazed at how quickly the diagnosis and treatment has happened since I first went for my check. The service I have has been 11/10.

“Now I just feel really lucky that I went for that lung health check as I so nearly didn’t go. And I’m telling everyone to go for theirs when they get the invite. I know two people who have been as a result of hearing about what has happened to me.

“It’s really good news that over 1,000 people like me have now had their lung cancer diagnosed by this screening service in Greater Manchester. “This means we can start our treatment much sooner which makes it much more likely it will be successful. Without it many of us – like me – wouldn’t know we had lung cancer.

“My lung health check means my cancer has been found at an early stage. I cannot stress enough how well I was treated at Wythenshawe Hospital pre and post operation.”

Lung health checks will be available to eligible people registered with the following groups of GP practices (in Turton Primary Care Network):

  • Harwood Medical Centre BL2 3HQ
  • The Oaks Family Practice BL1 8UP
  • Mandalay Medical Centre BL1 7LR
  • Edgworth Medical Centre BL7 9RG
  • Crompton View Surgery BL1 8UP
  • Bromley Meadows Surgery BL7 9RG

Eligible people will be invited by post or via text message when the lung health checks are in their area.

For more information about Lung Cancer Screening please visit www.mft.nhs.uk/lunghealthcheck

If you have concerning symptoms you should speak to your GP who will be able to refer you for tests if needed. You can read about symptoms of lung cancer on the NHS website.