Reacting swiftly to the symptoms of lung cancer gives sufferers a much higher chance of surviving one of the biggest killers in the UK, as health reporter Mark Stead reports.


IT’S something many of us shy away from because of the fear of what it might reveal.

But a new campaign is aiming to drive home the importance of taking the often daunting step of getting checked out for lung cancer – with the message that sooner is always better.

November marks Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and York Hospital’s NHS Foundation Trust is playing its part in the campaign by urging people who show potential symptoms of the condition to be assessed straight away.

Lung specialist nurses Jo Love and Alison Hyde are ready and waiting with all the information people need about how they can get checked out.

They are keen to stress that, while smokers are under greater threat of developing the illness, steering clear of cigarettes does not provide a guarantee in itself.

That is why they want people to take the chance of having a lung cancer check now and set their minds at rest – or, if they are showing signs of the condition, to ensure they start receiving vital treatment early and significantly boost their chances.

Jo said: “The two aims of Lung Cancer Awareness Month are firstly to inform and educate the public, particularly those at risk, about the importance of early detection and diagnosis.

“They are also to raise awareness among health professionals, particularly GPs and pharmacies, about the possible diagnosis of lung cancer when considering symptoms.

“These symptoms may not be serious, in which case you’ve got nothing to lose by getting them checked out.

“If they are serious, however, you’ve got everything to gain, because diagnosis at an early stage could save your life,” she said.

Each year, 38,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer across the UK, making it the country’s biggest cancer killer. Under the banner Early Detection Saves Lives, this year’s campaign is urging people to see their doctor straight away if they have any of the following symptoms:

* A cough which doesn’t go away after two to three weeks.

* A long-standing cough becoming worse.

* Persistent chest infections.

* Coughing up blood.

* Unexplained persistent breathlessness, tiredness, lack of energy or weight loss.

* Persistent chest and/or shoulder pain.

Jo said: “It is also important to recognise that non-smokers can get lung cancer too – one in eight people with lung cancer have never smoked.

“While smoking is still the major cause of lung cancer, the good news is that quitting works.

“It’s never too late to give up, and the sooner you stop the better. Even if you have been smoking for most of your life, the chances of developing lung cancer will be much less if you give up now, whatever your age.”

The campaign is run each year in the UK and is jointly organised by the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation – named after the TV entertainer who died from the disease in 1994, having blamed his illness on years of performing in smoke-filled clubs – and Macmillan Cancer Support, which heads up a consortium of other charities in conjunction with the Department of Health.

To find out more about getting checked out for lung cancer, phone Jo and Alison at York Hospital on 01904 726956 between 8am and 4pm Monday to Friday, or email jo.love@york.nhs.uk or alison.hyde@york.nhs.uk

You can also contact your GP for more information.