A giant pair of lungs are coming to Basildon to raise awareness of lung health and the importance of lung health checks for detecting serious illnesses.
The inflatable lungs will be at Eastgate Shopping Centre on 22 October from 10am- 4pm. Visitors can get up close to explore the giant lungs and learn more about how they work. They can also find out more about how our lungs are affected by various diseases such as lung cancer and COPD.
Health professionals will be on hand to talk to visitors about lung health and provide information about the Targeted Lung Health Checks programme. These free NHS check-ups are for smokers and ex-smokers aged 55-74 who are at increased risk of developing lung cancer.
We are really excited to have these giant lungs join us in Basildon. The inflatable lungs help to illustrate how our lungs can be damaged by disease and affected by our lifestyles. My hope is that when people see just how important it is to look after your lungs, they will take action to keep them safe.
“The free NHS lung health checks are a great way to give your lungs an important check-up. If you’re aged 55 to 74 and are a smoker or ex-smoker, come meet us on the day and find out more. And if you have received an invitation, make sure to contact our lung health check team.
Dr Donald McGeachy, Clinical Director, Targeted Lung Health Check Programme
The national Lung cancer screening programme is helping catch cancer earlier and save lives. The programme is targeted in areas with higher rates of smoking and incidences of lung cancer. Since starting in Basildon, 10 cancers have been detected, six of these in the early stages (stages 1 and 2) when treatment is more effective.
It is the last chance for people in Basildon to take up a lung health check before the programme moves to Billericay and then Wickford later this year.
Basildon residents who have received an invitation or believe they are eligible for the programme can call 0300 300 1557 for more information.
Volunteers from Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, a leading UK lung cancer charity, visit towns across the UK with their inflatable lungs to discuss lung health. They will be joined in Basildon by members of the local Lung Health Checks Programme.