A man was shocked to discover he had an illness known as a “silent killer” on his birthday.
Owen McGrath, from Childwall, was told he had cancer growing in his left lung on his birthday following a CT scan. It came after the 71-year-old was invited for a lung health check appointment as part of a programme being rolled out across Merseyside and Cheshire.
More than one million people in England, aged 55 to 74, who smoke or used to smoke have already been invited for a free targeted lung health check. The checks have been saving lives across the region in Liverpool, Halton, Knowsley, St Helens and south Sefton, by finding lung problems, including cancer, at its earliest stages, even before symptoms appear.
The NHS checks are now set to be rolled out across Wirral and Warrington, followed by north Sefton. Owen said he’s grateful he didn’t ignore his lung health check appointment – and after treatment he is now cancer free.
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He is urging anyone invited to these appointments to “act immediately” as it could save their life. Owen, 71, said: “I’m just so glad I went for the check. I didn’t expect the scan to show anything at all, but I later got a call to say they had found something.
“It was a shock, but it meant I was then given more in-depth scans and tests before they confirmed that it was cancer. They told me on my birthday but, to be honest, I was just glad they had caught it.
“The treatment wasn’t too bad. When people think about lung cancer, they think it’s a death sentence, especially if the cancer is growing like mine was, but that is just not true.
“The treatments they have now mean that you have a chance to get through it. I thought that the treatment itself would be hard on me, but I found it okay – and I’m still alive.
“I would say to anyone who is offered a lung health check, just do it. Act on it immediately. You can’t ignore a free check-up – it could save your life!”
Lung cancer is often referred to as a “silent killer” because it can develop without causing noticeable symptoms in its early stages. It is the UK’s biggest cancer killer, claiming the lives of more people than breast, prostate and pancreatic cancers combined.
It is a particular issue in parts of Cheshire and Merseyside, where the number of people diagnosed with the disease is significantly above the national average.
In Cheshire and Merseyside, out of 35,800 CT scans carried out so far, 412 lung cancers have been found, with 85% at the early stages of one or two. People diagnosed with lung cancer at an early stage are nearly 20 times more likely to survive for five years than those whose disease is found late.
The targeted lung health checks pinpoint those most at risk who are then offered a chest scan to rule out health problems or prompt more investigation or treatment. The checks will be offered to people on a rolling basis over the next two years in Wirral from May 31 and in Warrington from the beginning of September before moving to north Sefton in January 2026.
People invited to have the check will be sent an appointment in a text or letter for a telephone conversation with a lung health nurse. People considered to have a higher risk of lung cancer will be offered a low dose CT scan in a mobile unit located within their community.
Dr Chris Warburton, lung health check clinical director of programme, said: “We are delighted that eligible people in Wirral and Warrington and then north Sefton will soon be able to have these checks. We’ve seen the amazing impact of them since the programme was first launched in Liverpool a few years ago.
“Lung cancer can be difficult to detect early, which is why so many people are diagnosed when the disease has become incurable. But these checks are helping us to diagnose more people earlier, when cancer is far easier to treat.
“That’s why we want everyone who is given an appointment to attend it. The chances are that you won’t have any symptoms of lung problems – but should have the check whether you feel well or not.
“For the majority of those who attend, everything will be fine, but for those who do have something wrong, catching it early can make all the difference. Targeted Lung Health Checks are painless, quick, convenient and free of charge, so if you are given an appointment for one. Please do not ignore it.”
For more information about the Targeted Lung Health Check programme, click here.
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Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
