Many lung cancer ops unnecessary

Hi-tech scans are rare in the UK

Hundreds of lung cancer patients are undergoing unnecessary surgery because hi-tech scanners are not available to investigate their tumours, say experts.

They are calling for a big increase in positron emission tomography (PET) scanners in the UK.

The call comes as the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) launches guidance to improve lung cancer care in England and Wales.

The disease killed more than 33,000 people in the UK in 2003.

NICE said all 34 cancer networks in England should have rapid access to a PET scanner.

However, at present there are only 10 scanners in the UK - most in the London area.

It is bad enough having an incurable disease without spending a large amount of time in hospital having surgery and recovering from it. Dr Fergus Gleeson

Germany has 80 PET scanners, as does the US state of Florida alone.

PET scans can ascertain whether a growth is cancerous and whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

If a tumour is found to have spread, for example to the bones, then surgery would be pointless and cause more suffering to the patient.

Dr Fergus Gleeson, a consultant radiologist, said as many as 20% of the 3,000 lung cancer operations carried out each year could be avoided if PET scans were used beforehand.

He said: "Patients could have an operation that is totally pointless.

"Having your chest opened is not like having a hernia operation, it is a major operation.

"It is bad enough having an incurable disease without spending a large amount of time in hospital having surgery and recovering from it."

The guidelines mean absolutely nothing unless they are implemented Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation patient care director and guideline development group chairman, Dr Jesme Baird

Only about 5.5% of lung cancer patients survive for five years after diagnosis. Many die within six months.

But the prognosis is best if the condition is picked up at an early stage.

The NICE guidance is designed to speed up the diagnostic process.

It says GPs and patients must be made more aware of symptoms.

It also calls for all cancer units to have at least one lung cancer nurse specialist to provide support before and after diagnosis.

But cancer experts are concerned the recommendations will come to nothing without extra investment.

None of these improvements will happen unless the government makes additional money available to back up the recommendations Macmillan Cancer Relief chief executive, Peter Cardy

Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation patient care director and guideline development group chairman, Dr Jesme Baird, said: "The guidelines mean absolutely nothing unless they are implemented."

Macmillan Cancer Relief chief executive, Peter Cardy, said: "We welcome this guidance on a cancer that has traditionally been neglected and its attempts to improve access to treatment and survival rates for people affected by lung cancer.

"However, we are concerned that none of these improvements will happen unless the government makes additional money available to back up the recommendations."

A Department of Health spokeswoman said £1bn was being invested to boost NHS diagnostic services, including PET and CT scans.

"We have also set out plans to provide PET scanners in England over the next three to four years, which will make sure that every cancer network has access to a scanner."

PET scanners cost between £1m and £1.5m to set up, with running costs of £1m a year.