Understand
Mel McKechnie backs NHS lung cancer screening and awareness bus tour in Nottinghamshire
Overview
A 63-year-old former smoker, Mel McKechnie, is urging people to take up NHS cancer screening offers after tumours were detected early on her lungs through a mobile screening unit. McKechnie successfully had a tumour removed from her left lung and faces a similar procedure for her right lung. She is now supporting the East Midlands Cancer Alliance's NHS Cancer Awareness Bus Tour, which travels across Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire to provide free cancer advice, screening information, lifestyle support, and mini health checks to improve early diagnosis rates.
Key points
- Mel McKechnie was diagnosed with lung cancer following an NHS screening invitation after smoking for nearly fifty years.
- Her early diagnosis allowed doctors to remove a tumour from her left lung in July, with a similar operation planned for her right lung.
- McKechnie has since quit cigarettes, saving approximately £800 a month, and now uses vapes.
- She is supporting the NHS Cancer Awareness Bus Tour, led by the East Midlands Cancer Alliance, to promote early diagnosis and health awareness.
- The NHS bus tour visits various communities in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to offer free health advice, smoking cessation support, and mini health checks without requiring an appointment.