Stars Appeal fund new equipment to speed up diagnosis and treatment for lung cancer patients
The kit will also help people with other respiratory conditions
Last updated 14th Jun 2021
New equipment funded by the Stars Appeal means suspected lung cancer and other respiratory patients in Salisbury no longer have to travel to bigger specialists hospitals.
Patients can be diagnosed more quickly thanks to £170,000 worth of advanced equipment for the Respiratory Department that the charity funded.
As a result two new procedures have been introduced, endobronchial ultrasounds (EBUS) and thorascopy.
Patients can now get results in as little as 72 hours and will not have to travel to Southampton for tests.
The process of diagnosis and starting treatment could take 3-4 weeks but the new kit means quicker results and beginning treatment as soon as possible.
54-year-old Ali Slaven, from Shipton Bellinger, benefitted from EBUS after a routine scan showed up enlarged lymph nodes in her chest. She said:
"I was hugely relieved to be able to have the procedure at my familiar local hospital, where I knew my consultant, and to get my results so quickly. Life stops while you wait for a diagnosis. This made the whole thing so easy and reassuring." The procedure showed Ali didn't have lung cancer, but a rare autoimmune condition called sarcoidosis, which the respiratory team are helping her to manage.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
EBUS is a diagnostic technique that's especially useful for suspected lung cancer and related conditions.
It uses a camera attached to an ultrasound machine that goes into the patient's lungs. The doctor can look at tubing in the lungs and nearby lymph glands on screen.
As part of the procedure the doctor also takes a sample from the lungs. EBUS allows detailed analysis which helps the respiratory team design and deliver more targeted treatments.
It uses a specialist camera to let doctors look at the pleura (lining of the lung) and the area surrounding and is an important diagnostic and therapeutic intervention for lung cancer patients.
It allows fluid to be drained from the pleural space, the pleura to be biopsied and treatment to be given to the lining of the lung to prevent more fluid from building up, all in one procedure.
Dr Richard Harrison, Respiratory Consultant said: "Thanks to the generous people who support our Stars Appeal we have revolutionised our approach to the early diagnosis of lung cancer and other respiratory conditions. This is undoubtedly improving the outlook for our patients. It's already helping hundreds of people a year and that will only increase. This is speeding up diagnosis, stopping unnecessary slower tests and giving us more information from one test. Because we can diagnose and stage lung cancer together we can create a treatment plan more quickly at what is a very distressing time for patients and their families, and ensure they continue to see the Salisbury medical team they've already got to know."
You can take part in STARS Appeal 'Walk for Wards Wherever You Are' sponsored walk on Sunday July 4th and fund more equipment like this, find out more here.