NHS England is set to trial AI and robot-assisted care to enhance lung cancer detection, the UK’s most fatal cancer. This initiative coincides with plans to screen all smokers and ex-smokers for lung cancer by 2030, aiming to diagnose 50,000 cases by 2035, with 23,000 at an early stage, potentially saving thousands of lives. Lung cancer accounts for 33,100 deaths annually in the UK and highlights significant health inequalities, impacting poorer populations disproportionately. The trial at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust will leverage AI to detect small, likely cancerous nodules in lung scans and use robotic technology for precise biopsies. This approach could streamline diagnosis, reducing waiting times and the need for invasive procedures. The potential for early-stage diagnosis significantly increases survival rates, emphasizing the importance of integrating innovative technologies into cancer care. Timely implementation of these advancements is crucial for broad patient benefit, according to experts like Michelle Mitchell from Cancer Research UK.
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