Oldham health chief welcomes lung cancer funding

Oldham's Public Health Director has welcomed funding for research into the disease which killed her mum.

Scientists will continue their groundbreaking work into lung cancer thanks to up to £4m of funding from Cancer Research UK over the next five years.

Rebecca Fletcher understands the devastating impact of lung cancer, having lost her mum to the disease just two months after she was diagnosed.

The funding renewal for the Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence - which is supported by ScottishPower - comes a decade after the Centre was launched to tackle the disease which is the third most common cancer in the UK and the biggest cancer killer.

The investment coincides with new analysis from the charity, released to mark Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and shine a light on the advances in research that are helping to drive improvements in prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

In the North West, around 4,000 lives are saved from lung cancer every year.

That’s around 10 people every day. 

And since the 1970s, around 77,800 deaths have been avoided from the disease in the region.

Developing better treatments for patients with lung cancer had lagged behind other cancers, with little improvement seen over time due to its complex biology, resulting in poor survival rates.

However, great strides have been made particularly over the past decade since the Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence (LCCE) was established sharing expertise at the Cancer Research UK Manchester Centre and University College London (UCL).

Rebecca, who lives in Salford with partner Mike, recalls her mum always smoking from her being a youngster in the 1970s.

When mum-of-two Lesley (pictured below) was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2009, the disease was already so advanced that she was unable to start treatment.

She was given pain relief and died the day after Boxing Day aged 63 - at Wythenshawe Hospital.

Rebecca, aged 48, said: “It was devastating to lose my mum to lung cancer.

"Particularly as she died so quickly after being diagnosed.

“I know from my day job that lung cancer remains a deadly disease in the North West and can be a “forgotten” cancer which isn’t talked about enough.

“As someone who has supported Cancer Research UK by fundraising at events like Race for Life, I am so heartened to see considerable investment in tackling the disease which killed my mum.

“The research expertise in Manchester sounds amazing and gives my family such hope for the future.”

Researchers have shown air pollution can cause inflammation leading to non-small cell lung cancer - a discovery which will have significant implications for public health and prevention strategies.

More than 15 computational tools have been developed since 2019, which are widely adopted in lung cancer research and beyond.

These tools help researchers understand how tumours evolve over time, analysing immune cell content in blood samples and revealing genetic changes driving cancer​.

Researchers at the LCCE have been at the forefront of Europe’s efforts in lung cancer screening, influencing national policies on early lung cancer detection.

The LCCE collaborates with international experts, driving lung cancer research on a global scale.

This includes partnerships for clinical trials, data sharing and the development of new approaches to lung cancer diagnosis and treatment with international collaborators from the USA to Germany, Canada to Australia​. 

The research continues to build on long standing expertise in Manchester, involving teams based at the Cancer Research UK National Biomarker Centre, the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester and The Christie.

Professor Caroline Dive, Interim Director of the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, said: “We are thrilled that the Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence’s funding has been renewed.

“It’s fantastic recognition of the hard and tireless work of researchers in Manchester tackling a disease which remains a significant cause of cancer death in this region.

"Lung cancer patients nationwide are now benefitting from the world class research and medical expertise which will lead to better ways of early detection and more effective treatment which saves lives.”

Dr Iain Foulkes, Executive Director of Research and Innovation at Cancer Research UK, said: “From uncovering the causes of lung cancer to pioneering drugs to treat it, we are powering progress in the fight against the disease.

"So, this Lung Cancer Awareness Month, our supporters and partners have every right to feel proud of the discoveries and breakthroughs taking place in Manchester, that they help make possible through their generosity and commitment to the cause.

“But we must go further and faster.

"This latest cash injection for the Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence will help to increase the pace of research, unlocking lung cancer’s secrets and offering hope to the many thousands of people diagnosed with this devastating disease.”

The Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence is supported by ScottishPower who have committed up to £4m to support the Centre over the next five years.  

Since 2012, the green energy company has raised over £40m to support Cancer Research UK’s mission to help create a world where people can live longer, better lives free from the fear of cancer.  

To support life-saving research, donate monthly to Cancer Research UK at: cruk.org/donate

LUNG CANCER

Lung cancer is the UK’s third most common cancer. 

Smoking is the biggest cause of the disease, but some people who get lung cancer don’t smoke. 

Every year in England, around 1,700 people who have never smoked are diagnosed with the disease.

Lung cancer doesn’t always cause symptoms in its early stages.

Many of the signs and symptoms can also be caused by other medical conditions but finding lung cancer early can mean that it's easier to treat.

So, if people notice any symptoms or changes, they should get them checked out by their GP as soon as possible.  

Common symptoms of lung cancer include:

Having a new cough or a cough most of the time

Getting out of breath doing the things you used to do without a problem

Coughing up phlegm (sputum) with blood in it

Having an ache or pain in the chest or shoulder

Chest infections that keep coming back or a chest infection that doesn't get better

Loss of appetite

Feeling tired all the time (fatigue)

Losing weight

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