There is a worrying lack of awareness of the key symptoms of lung cancer, campaigners warned today.
Lung cancer is the biggest cancer killer in the UK, say the experts. They urge people not to ignore a persistent cough or chest infection, as it could be a sign of lung cancer. The warning comes as part of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, which runs from November 1-30.
Dr Graham Phillips of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society says: "Early detection of lung cancer saves lives. When symptoms are present and recognised at an early stage, treatment is much more likely to be successful. Pharmacists can play a vital role in this by talking to people with the relevant warning signs."
Commenting on the warning, Dame Helena Shovelton of the British Lung Foundation points out another good reason to be aware of long-lasting symptoms.
"A persistent cough can be an early sign of lung cancer but it can also be an early symptom of other lung diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema," she said.
"Our research has shown that nearly 3.5 million people in the UK are at a high risk of having lung conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and 28 per cent of smokers would think their cough was just a ‘smoker’s cough’."
She calls on people with persistent symptoms such as a nasty cough, wheezy chest or breathlessness to request a lung function test from their GP. The British Lung Foundation also has a free online breath test which highlights symptoms of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
"The earlier people are diagnosed with lung cancer or other lung conditions the better their chances of getting treated successfully," Dame Helena adds.
Leave a Reply