United Kingdom Lung Cancer Coalition

Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Shocking differences in lung cancer care across England, Scotland and Wales were revealed in the National Lung Cancer Audit (NLCA) published on 30th April 2009. The report showed only half (51%) of patients receive any kind of active treatment, less than 10% have surgery, and many do not currently have access to a specialist nurse.

As well as executing a national media campaign to coincide with publication, the UKLCC has written to poorly- performing hospital trusts urging them to review their lung cancer services. It is also working with parliamentarians, the health minister and national cancer director to raise awareness of the importance of data collection to improve standards of care and help save lives.

For more information on the NLCA, click here and to access the report visit: http://www.ic.nhs.uk/services/national-clinical-audit-support-programme-ncasp/audit-reports/lung-cancer

National Lung Cancer Audit - Media Coverage

UKLCC launches national report into lung cancer services

The NHS is still failing lung cancer patients, according to the results of the first national review of lung cancer services, published by the UK Lung Cancer Coalition at the beginning of November 2009. Despite headway in UK lung cancer prevention, disease awareness and screening, the UKLCC believes that key areas such as diagnosis, treatment rates and access to specialists are still woefully inadequate....

View the full press release
View the full report
View media coverage

What is the UK Lung Cancer Coalition?

The United Kingdom Lung Cancer Coalition (UKLCC) is a partnership of charities, clinicians, senior NHS professionals and healthcare companies with a commitment to double lung cancer survival. It is the nation’s only multi-interest group in lung cancer. The UKLCC is primarily a campaigning organisation. Information and support for people affected by lung cancer can be found separately by contacting the following charity members of the UKLCC, whose details are available on this website: British Lung Foundation, Cancer Black Care, Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and Tenovus.

Our challenge

Lung cancer is the country’s biggest cancer killer. In the UK, someone dies from lung cancer every 15 minutes. Despite some recent improvements in service provision, there are still wide variations in standards across the country, including diagnosis, treatment and care for lung cancer patients.

The UKLCC believes that more can be done to reduce the terrible death toll caused by lung cancer. Our vision is to meet an ambitious “survival challenge”:

To double one year lung cancer survival by 2015 and five year survival by 2020*

* based on survival rate figures from 1996-99.

Our plan of action

In 2007, the UKLCC developed a 12 point plan – calls for action which we believe if prioritised and acted upon would make a real difference for lung cancer patients.

Bringing standards of care across the NHS up to those in the best centres would, we believe, save many thousands of lives. We are keen to work with the NHS and Government, patients and carers, industry and voluntary sector to make sure this happens.

Download the Lung Cancer Plan

The UKLCC 2008 Annual Review

2008 was a full and busy year for the UKLCC. We sponsored a session called ‘Is your MDT fit for purpose?’ at the International Lung Cancer Conference and organized a highly attended and award-winning Nurse Fly-in event at Westminster to raise awareness of the shortages and variations in specialist lung cancer nurses. Consequently, an Early Day Motion was signed by 80 MPs. Again, we wrote to hospitals in 2008 to urge them to submit data into the National Lung Cancer Audit, which received very positive responses; and we held a meeting with the Royal College of Surgeons and Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery, culminating in an agreement to draft a joint position statement on best practice.

Download the report on The UKLCC 2008 Annual Review

National Lung Cancer Audit 2009 now published

The latest National Lung Cancer Audit published on 2nd December 2009 shows that only half (51%) of lung cancer patients are currently seen by a lung cancer specialist nurse…... Web Link | ... Press release

National award for UKLCC and NFLCN

The UKLCC and the National Lung Cancer Forum for Nurses (NLCFN) are celebrating following the 2009 Communiqué awards, prestigious in the health world for recognising excellence in PR and medical education healthcare... ... more

Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Every November, UKLCC members support Lung Cancer Awareness Month, raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of lung cancer and encouraging people not to delay visiting their GP. ... more

Is Your MDT Fit for Purpose? - UKLCC session at The International Lung Cancer Conference

On Thursday 10th July 2008 the UKLCC sponsored a session at the International Lung Cancer Conference. This meeting aimed to review the current status and impact of MDT working in lung cancer care in the UK.

Download the report on the UKLCC session

Lung Cancer - The facts

Lung cancer can be cured
One in eight people with lung cancer have never smoked
More women die from lung cancer than breast cancer
Half of all people in the UK know someone that has died or been affected by lung cancer

Dr Mick Peake, UKLCC Clinical Reference Group

"We know if we apply the best standards of care already being demonstrated in some parts of the country, and if we diagnose people early, we can double lung cancer survival rates in the UK"

Donald Sutherland, patient

"I was diagnosed with lung cancer eight years ago and I am still alive and well. You can survive lung cancer. There is hope."

Press Releases