Lung cancer screening could have saved my dad, claims daughter

Jack Cordwell died after being diagnosed with lung cancer, aged 76

A woman described the shock of finding out her father had lung cancer, despite having not smoked for 20 years.

Lorraine Wingert-Scheeres, whose dad Jack Cordwell died aged 76, believes it is not taken seriously enough.

It comes as Cancer Research UK said screening could prevent more than 1,000 deaths from the disease in the next decade in Wales.

The Welsh government said Public Health Wales is looking at how targeted screening could be implemented.

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Lorraine's father, who started smoking at 13 before quitting in his 50s, developed a persistent cough in 2007 and was later diagnosed with a small cell carcinoma.

"It was a major shock to all of us... I did point out that my dad hadn't smoked for 20 years, so how could it be possible?" said Lorraine, 67, from Pembrokeshire.

"The consultant told us that if my dad hadn't stopped smoking 20 years ago, we would have had this conversation 18 years ago."

Lorraine said she believes that lung cancer is not taken seriously, despite its high death toll

Cancer Research UK is calling for the urgent introduction of a national targeted screening programme for lung cancer, which remains the leading cause of cancer death in Wales.

The charity claims that routine screening could see about 2,400 more patients in Wales diagnosed with the disease at an early stage when it is most treatable.

It follows a recommendation by the UK National Screening Committee that screening should be given to those most at risk - people aged between 55 and 74 with a history of smoking.

After Lorraine's father was admitted to hospital with a suspected stoke, the family were informed the tumour had metastasised into his brain.

"We all knew immediately what that meant," said Lorraine.

A few months later, Lorraine's mum and Jack's wife Jessica died suddenly from a brain haemorrhage. Mr Cordwell fell into a coma and died just a few days later.

"Whether the stress of dad's illness impacted on mum, and whether mum's death impacted on dad, we'll never know... the shock and the hurt and the pain literally took years to subside," added Lorraine.

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"Lung cancer took a terrible toll on my family, any means to combat it must be used. I feel it is not taken seriously, but almost everyone you speak to knows somebody who has died of it," added Lorraine.

"My dad hadn't smoked for 20 years, but he would have still qualified and benefited from this screening."

Simon Scheeres of Cancer Research UK said lung cancer is a "tragedy for Wales" which is "devastating families".

"There have been big improvements in how we diagnose and treat other forms of cancer, but long-term lung cancer survival in the UK isn't much higher than it was 50 years ago," he said.

"This is unacceptable when evidence shows that earlier diagnosis through targeted lung cancer screening can potentially help hundreds of people live longer healthier lives.

"A full commitment by the Welsh government to implement a targeted lung cancer screening programme is a real chance to change that."

A Welsh government spokesperson said: "We have accepted the UK National Screening Committee's recommendation for targeted lung screening and Public Health Wales is scoping how this could be delivered in Wales.

"This work will also consider the learning from the pilot underway in Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board."