National Lung Cancer Audit

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

What is the UK Lung Cancer Coalition?

The United Kingdom Lung Cancer Coalition (UKLCC) is a powerful partnership of the leading lung cancer charities, clinicians, healthcare professionals and healthcare companies with a commitment to lung cancer issues.  The UKLCC is the nation’s largest multi-interest group in lung cancer, working to bring lung cancer out of the shadow.  The UKLCC is primarily a campaigning organisation and does not provide support for people affected by lung cancer. Information and support can be found  by contacting  the following member organisations whose contact 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; 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 lung cancer survival, for example, five year survival by 2015*

* based on survival rate figures from 1996-99.

Our plan of action

The UKLCC has 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

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

The UKLCC 2007 Annual Review

2007 was a fantastic year for the UKLCC. We held our inaugural conference with clinical partners from across the country, which formed the basis of our new strategy: Lung Cancer Plan: improving lung cancer survival in the UK. We were also busy in Westminster; we hosted a parliamentary reception to highlight the importance lung cancer issues, organised a roundtable meeting with MPs, clinical nurse specialists and their patients and met with the Health Minister to discuss lung cancer research.

Download the report on The UKLCC 2007 Annual Review

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. 

Lung cancer can be cured

Half of all people in the UK know someone that has died or been affected by lung cancer