Live in Dartford, Faversham, or Whitstable? Love your lungs and get a lung health check
People in Dartford, Faversham and Whitstable are being asked to 'love their lungs' by taking up their invite for a free lung health check.
Past and current smokers, aged 55 to 74, living in these areas, are urged to check their text messages as it could save their lives.
Early detection
Lung cancer often has no symptoms in its early stages, which is why early detection and screening is so important.
Since the lung health check (now called lung cancer screening) programme launch in Kent in 2022, more than 90 lung cancers have been diagnosed so far, with 64 per cent diagnosed at an early stage (stage one or two) compared to 33 per cent outside of the screening.*
Early diagnosis can make lung cancer more treatable and make treatment more successful.
Dr Jonathan Bryant, NHS Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance Cancer Clinical Lead, said: “Lung cancer is one of the most common and serious types of cancer, so, it's very important that people attend their lung cancer screening appointment. The earlier the diagnosis, the more treatment options there are.”
“Go for it, it's worth it”
Derek, aged 67 from Deal, attended lung cancer screening at Buckland Hospital, in Dover.
He had been a smoker for over 40 years and was initially daunted about having the screening. However, he realised the importance of attending and called the east Kent lung cancer screening team.
Pictured left to right: Annmarie Frenchum, Programme Manager, Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance, Derek and Tony Fleming, Lead Macmillan Lung Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist/ Responsible Assessor Lung Cancer Screening Programme, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust.
He said: “I thought to myself, you are better off finding out something now.”
Being a wheelchair user, Derek described his experience of using the CT scanner as 'easy' and the staff as 'very helpful'.
Derek's CT scan results came back as clear, and he now attends a scan every 2 years to see if anything has changed.
“If you get offered, go for it, it's worth it.
“It doesn't hurt, it doesn't cost anything and it could save your life.”
Launch events
To mark the launch of Lung Cancer Screening in Dartford and Faversham, the Lung Cancer Screening Team will be running lung cancer screening events for people to attend.
Dartford
Priory Market Place, Priory Shopping Centre, Dartford, DA1 2HS on Thursday, 9 July from 9am.
Faversham
Faversham Town Council building, 12 Market Place ME13 7AE on Friday, 10 July from 10am.
Anyone eligible** is invited to come along and learn more about the lung cancer screening programme, early detection and speak to the team about signs and symptoms of lung cancer.
Further information
The programme is designed to check those most at risk of developing lung cancer to spot early signs.
The programme is already live in the south Kent Coast, Canterbury and most recently, Whitstable (March 2026), with Faversham launching this month (June) and Dartford in July. Further areas are expected to go live later in 2026 and 2027.
Lung cancer screening takes place in two stages. The first is an initial phone assessment with a specially trained health care professional.
If the assessment finds the person to be at high risk, they are offered a CT scan to check for early signs of lung cancer.
Other lung conditions can also be identified through the screening. If this happens, participants will be referred on for the appropriate treatment.
Smokers are also offered stop smoking support with an advisor who will provide friendly and professional support and resources to help quit smoking.
Learn more about NHS Lung Cancer Screening.
Learn more about the symptoms of lung cancer on the NHS website.
*East Kent University NHS Foundation Trust, March 2026.
** How do I know if I am eligible to come along to the Dartford or Faversham launch events for lung cancer screening?
Those eligible for lung cancer screening are current and former smokers, aged between 55 and 74, living in Dartford or Faversham.