Lung cancer in never-smokers is now the eighth most common cause of cancer-related death in the UK. With declining rates of smoking, the relative proportion of lung cancers in never-smokers is rising. Furthermore, the absolute numbers and rates of lung cancers in never-smokers are increasing, and this does not appear to be solely related to passive smoking or misreported smoking status. Many lung cancers in never-smokers are oncogene driven, and the sensitivity of typical symptoms, such as cough, dyspnoea and haemoptysis, among those who do not smoke is half that of those who do. As such, lung cancer in never-smokers represents a diagnostic challenge for clinicians whilst members of the public remain largely unaware that lung cancer can affect never-smokers.

Earlier this year, ALK Positive UK, EGFR Positive UK and the Ruth Strauss Foundation launched See Through the Symptoms to raise awareness of never-smoking lung cancer amongst primary healthcare professionals. Tonight’s webinar will explore the issue of lung cancer in never-smokers and will include a patient describing their experience.

Webinar Speakers

Chair: Carol Stonham

Carol qualified as a Registered Nurse in 1986 in Bristol and has worked in Primary Care in Gloucestershire since 1990. Following 26 years working as a Nurse Practitioner in General Practice, Carol now works at Gloucestershire CCG on the Respiratory Clinical Programme Group as Senior Nurse Practitioner (Respiratory) as well as running a locality based FeNO service. She also enjoys teaching and mentoring. Carol is an active member of the Primary Care Respiratory Society UK. She is Chair of the PCRS Executive Committee. Carol is also the Primary Care nurse representative for the National Asthma and COPD Audit Programme, UK Inhaler Group and UK Lung Cancer Coalition. Carol has been awarded the Queen's Nurse title and in 2016 she was awarded an MBE in the Queen's New Year Honours list for Services to Nursing and Healthcare.

Speaker: Anthony Cunliffe

Dr Anthony Cunliffe has been a GP for 13 years and currently practises part time in South London. Anthony started working for Macmillan Cancer Support in 2012 as a Macmillan GP Facilitator. He subsequently became the lead GP Advisor for London and, more recently, the joint National GP Advisor Lead. Anthony is also the co-clinical chair for the South East London Cancer Alliance.

Speaker: Lavinia Magee

Lavinia is Nurse Consultant, Thoracic Oncology, at Royal Papworth Hospital. Her oncology career started in 1997 as a clinical research nurse and database manager. As a NLCFN member she was awarded the first Research Interest Group Grant to look at the psycho-social impact of taking TKIs. In 2013 she became a committee member of the NLCFN and was involved in developing the Using Your Voice workshops and Promoting Research in Oncology Nursing project. She represents the NLCFN at the UK Lung Cancer Coalition, Lung Cancer Europe forum and is a member of LORD NCRI subgroup. Running 2 nurse-led follow up clinics per week and working within a dedicated multi-disciplinary team, it is an honour to look after patients with lung cancer and mesothelioma. The NLCFN provides an excellent way to share ideas and expertise and improve services for patients and their carers.

Speaker: Duncan Keeley

Duncan Keeley is a member of the Policy Forum and former Policy Lead of the Primary Care Respiratory Society – UK. . He has special interests in respiratory medicine and medical education. He now works as a portfolio GP and GP appraiser after 24 years as a GP principal at the Rycote Practice in Thame, Oxfordshire. He is an honorary tutor in general practice at the Department of Primary Care, University of Oxford. He was a GP Trainer from 1995 – 2013. He studied medicine at Cambridge University and The London Hospital. He trained in general medicine and paediatrics in London and then spent three years working as a paediatrician at Harare Central and Chitungwiza hospitals in Zimbabwe before entering general practice. He was an editorial adviser for the British Medical Journal from 1991 – 2001. He was a member of the Ethics Committee of the Royal College of General Practitioners from 2007-2013.