Been coughing for 3 weeks? Tell your doctor. National Lung Cancer Awareness Campaign

Been coughing for 3 weeks? Tell your doctor.

This is the message put out this week to people in West Lancashire and across the country by the Department of Health as part of the National Lung Cancer awareness campaign.

You need to see a doctor straight away if you have been coughing for the past three weeks or more. Some of the other symptoms of lung cancer include:

• A cough that has got worse or changes
• Repeated chest infections
• Coughing up blood
• Breathlessness
• Feeling more tired than usual for some time
• Losing weight for no obvious reason
• An ache or pain in your chest or shoulder that has lasted some time.

If you notice any of these symptoms, tell your doctor right away. Detecting lung cancer early makes it easier to treat, so seeing your doctor quickly may save your life. It’s probably nothing serious but it could also be a sign of something else that needs treatment.

So, don’t ignore the symptoms or put off a trip to the doctor. It can make the world of difference and you won’t be wasting anyone’s time.

Lung Cancer is no joke!

If you know anyone who has any of these symptoms, insist they see their doctor. Again, it’s probably nothing serious, but they should get it checked out.

BE CLEAR ON CANCER

Lung cancer affects 33,000 people every year in England with the majority of cases occurring in people over the age of 55. When diagnosed at its earliest stage, as many as 80% of people are alive five years after diagnosis compared with only seven per cent diagnosed at a late stage.

The signs and symptoms of lung cancer include a cough that has lasted for three weeks or more. The earlier people spot these signs and are diagnosed, the sooner treatment can begin.

If England's survival rates for lung cancer matched the best in Europe, an extra 1,300 lives could be saved each year.

For further information about the signs and symptoms of lung cancer, please visit nhs.uk/lungcancer

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