CCL now offers EarlyCDT Lung test - identifying lung cancer risk earlier
Cambridge Clinical Laboratories is now running the Oncimmune EarlyCDT Lung test in its Cambridge laboratory. The EarlyCDT Lung test is a simple finger prick blood test which results can indicate whether an individual has an increased risk of lung cancer.
A useful test for those worried about lung cancer, those whose family members have had it and those who have been exposed to environmental factors that may increase risk, such as smoking. EarlyCDT Lung can detect lung cancer on average four years before standard care and has shown, in a large NHS trial, that it can reduce late stage lung cancer presentation by 36%.*
The impact of Covid-19 isn’t isolated to just those getting the virus. The NHS is struggling, with waiting times for cancer referral and treatment at record high. With 80% of lung cancer cases diagnosed in the later stages of the disease this new availability of the EarlyCDT Lung test could make a huge difference.
CCL, based in Milton Cambridge, is a leading lab with an objective to bring new technologies for diagnostics to the UK.
CCL CEO Dr Anthony Cooke says: “2020 threw a huge curveball for the world in the form of the Covid-19 pandemic, as a result Cancer healthcare has been hugely impacted. The new tests we are launching will help to ease the pressure of the NHS and support patients to take more of a lead with their healthcare. CCL wants to help; we know our tests will improve the lives of many.”
Lung cancer in the UK
Every year around 48,500 people are diagnosed with lung cancer in the UK. It is one of the most common and serious types of cancer. Lung cancer starts in the windpipe (trachea), the main airway (bronchus) or the lung tissue.
What are the symptoms of Lung cancer?
The most common symptoms of lung cancer are:
· Having a cough most of the time
· Having a change in a cough you have had for a long time
· Getting out of breath doing the things you used to do without a problem
· Coughing up phlegm 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
· Losing your appetite
· Feeling tired all the time
· Losing weight.
Lung cancer UK stats
(Source – Cancer Research UK)
· Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK. Around 48,500 people are diagnosed in the UK each year
· Lung cancer is more common as you get older. Around 45% of those diagnosed with lung cancer in the UK are aged 75+
· In the UK each year - around 25,300 men are diagnosed, and 23,300 women are diagnosed
· More than 8 out of 10 cases of lung cancer in the UK are caused by smoking.