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New lung cancer screening guidelines from three medical groups recommend annual scans but only for an older group of current or former heavy smokers. The advice applies only to those age 55 to 74. The risks of screening younger or older smokers or nonsmokers outweigh any benefits, according to the guidelines. About 8 million Americans would be eligible for screening under the new criteria, and if all of them got the scans, about 4,000 lung cancer deaths per year could be prevented, said Dr. Peter Bach of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. He chaired the expert panel that wrote the new guidelines for the American College of Chest Physicians, the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

The recommended screening involves low-dose CT scans, which are a special kind of X-ray that can detect lung cancer early but also can have false-positive results. Regular chest X-rays can also detect lung cancer, but they provide less detailed images than CT scans, can also have false-positive results and have not been recommended as a screening tool because they have not been shown to save lives. The guidelines were published online Sunday in the Journal of the American Medical Association. An estimated 226,000 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year. It is the leading cause of cancer deaths for U.S. men and women.

An estimated 160,000 lung cancer deaths nationwide will occur this year. That number has declined in recent years, partly because of better detection and fewer people smoking. Widespread screening will likely lead to some deaths because abnormal results are typically followed by biopsies and other invasive tests that sometimes have deadly complications. Still, experts say those deaths would be far outnumbered by people saved from lung cancer deaths by screening. The recommendations go slightly further than preliminary guidance issued last year by the American Cancer Society and targeting current or heavy smokers in the same age range. That guidance said eligible adults "may consider" CT screening but should discuss risks and benefits with their physicians.

The new guidelines say screening with low-dose CT scans should be offered, but only in academic medical centers and other sites with specialized radiologists and surgeons on staff. The guidance is based on a review of evidence including a large National Cancer Institute study involving more than 53,000 people with a history of smoking at least one cigarette pack daily for 30 years or two packs for 15 years. The guidelines recommend screening only for people who have smoked that much.

The study is considered the strongest evidence favoring CT screening and also was the basis for the cancer society's guidance and recent similar guidelines from the American Lung Association. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is evaluating that study as it prepares to update its 2004 stance on lung cancer screening. The task force said then that there was insufficient evidence to recommend lung cancer screening with CT scans, X-rays or sputum tests.

But when he tried to use the device – which glows green when "lit" – in The Last Plantagenet, a Wetherspoon’s pub in Granby Street, Leicester, he was challenged. The 71-year-old, who bought the £39 plastic device four months ago to help him end his 30-a-day habit, said: "I was just having a quiet pint and using the cigarette when a member of staff told me I would have to go outside. I was a bit bemused because the thing doesn’t produce any smoke.”

The former merchant sailor, who lives in Eyres Monsell, Leicester, said: "I though she was joking at first and then I realised she was deadly serious. "I asked her why I couldn’t use it and she told me it was because it encouraged other people to smoke. "That sounded a bit lame to me so I asked to see something in writing. "Eventually, someone came down with what looked like a menu and waved it in front of me but wouldn’t let me read it. "It was all the more surprising because I have used it in there before and not had a problem. I’ve also used it many times in other bars and restaurants in Leicester without any problems, and even on the bus.

"Nobody has ever had a problem with it before." Mr Gray said he left the pub after the argument with staff and he was not sure if he would be returning. Wetherspoon’s said the artificial cigarettes had been banned from its chain since the ban on smoking in public places was introduced in 2007 as staff were too busy to determine whether or not they were real. However, Mr Gray said: "I think that’s a ridiculous policy." Company spokesman Eddy Gershon said: "When the ban came in, lots of people were using these devices in our pubs.

Many of them looked a lot like real cigarettes and it was causing problems for our staff determining whether they were real or not. "I’m sorry if this upsetting for the customer but it is the rule we are using." A Leicester City Council spokesperson said anyone using the electronic cigarette would not be fined. However, he said, it was up to the premises owner whether or not they allowed the use of the devices.

Electric cigarettes, e-cigs or e cigarettes, as they are known, have never been as popular as they are now with many smokers are making the switch from traditional cigarettes. E-cigs contain no tar, tobacco or omit second hand smoke so they are a healthier and more socially acceptable alternative to smoking tobacco(http://www.freetobacco.info/). Freedom Cigarettes have only been running for nine months, but in that time experienced a massive increase on sales month on month. They are winning a good amount of the UK’s market share and are now looking to broaden their horizons by moving into the American market.

The electronic cigarette market in the US is by far the most competitive in the world with big players like Blu Cigs and NJoy leading the pack. The US market is also quite fragmented with lots of SMEs serving clients on a local level and acquisition is a tactic Freedom Cigarettes might employ. “We are always looking at new ways to expand our business operations and the America market is the next logical step. The initial penetration will be the biggest investment in time and money, but will a good strategy you can reap the rewards.

We have been very successful expanding our operations into Ireland, experiencing a massive increase in our customer base, not just from existing smokers, but vapers too looking for a quality and reliable product. The American market will present a lot of new challenges; however we feel that our business plan is pretty solid and our team is more than capable,” commented Richard Power of Freedom Cigarettes.