Screening programme marks 1,000 lung cancers detected with focus on patients behind the figures

A lung cancer screening programme covering South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw has reached a major milestone, having detected 1,000 cancers since it launched in Doncaster in 2021.
This November, during Lung Cancer Awareness Month, the team behind the service is shifting attention away from the numbers and on to the people whose lives have been affected by screening. The Behind Every Number campaign will feature the experiences of patients, staff and others involved in the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Lung Cancer Screening service on the SYB Cancer Alliance’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
The programme has expanded across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw and is designed to find lung cancer in people who may not have known they had it. Around 77% of the cancers detected through the service have been found at an early stage, when there are more treatment options and treatment is more likely to be successful.
Dr Jason Page, Clinical Director for SYB Lung Cancer Screening, said: “Diagnosing 1,000 cancers is indeed significant, but it’s also important to remember that these aren’t simply numbers. Each number represents a person, as well as their family, friends, and loved ones.
“Finding lung cancer earlier can make a real difference to the treatment options available and therefore to people’s lives. We want everyone who receives an invitation to understand the importance of attending all their Lung Cancer Screening appointments, even if they feel completely well or have already stopped smoking.
“This means attending your Lung Health Check and your CT scan, if you’re referred for one, including any follow-up scans, because they’re all part of the same screening round.”
Two patient champions, Sandra Sloan from Doncaster and Mirban Hussain from Rotherham, have shared how screening changed their lives.
Sandra had given up smoking 16 years before her appointment and had no symptoms. Although she felt anxious about having a scan because of claustrophobia, she attended with support from the team on the mobile scanning unit. She was diagnosed with lung cancer, but because it was found early, she was able to have surgery to remove it and has remained cancer-free ever since.
Sandra said: “It felt like a long time waiting for my results, but it was only a week after my CT scan that I got a call saying they had found something on my lung. I went to my hospital appointment and was told I had lung cancer.
“I was referred for a CAT scan and I remember being terrified, but everyone was so kind to me. It wasn’t even two weeks later I was sent a letter telling me I needed an operation.
“I had a third of my lung removed: the cancer was gone. I felt like I’d got my life back.”
Mirban’s experience was different, in that he hoped to be referred for a CT scan and welcomed the chance to have one. He too had no symptoms and felt fine.
“I was very frightened and emotional when I got the call that they had found something on my lung. I needed surgery and the team was so supportive. I can’t thank my consultant enough; he’s such an amazing man.
“I didn’t need any chemotherapy or radiotherapy after my operation and today, I’m cancer free.
“I’m so thankful I had my Lung Cancer Screening, and I’m so thankful for what it’s done for me and my family.”
People aged 55 to 74 who smoke or used to smoke will be invited for free Lung Cancer Screening when the programme reaches their area. After a Lung Health Check assessment, those found to be at higher risk will be offered a low-dose CT scan of their chest.
The service also said in July 2026 that more than 1,500 people in SYB had successfully quit smoking after accepting a referral to their local stop smoking service during their Lung Health Check.
The campaign is intended to underline that screening is about more than appointments, scans and statistics, and about giving people the best chance of earlier detection and treatment.
Mirban said: “If you get a Lung Cancer Screening invite, please, please have your appointment, even if you feel ok or have already quit smoking.”
Sandra added: “I’m a very, very, very lucky lady. It saved my life.”
For more information, visit www.lungcancerscreeningsyb.co.uk.