We are helping to raise awareness of lung cancer. Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK, and it causes the biggest loss in healthy years of life.
We want more cancers to be diagnosed at an earlier stage, when treatment is more likely to be successful.
On this page you can find more information about the symptoms of lung cancer, screening for lung cancer, and links to further information.
Contact your GP practice if you are worried.
Lung Cancer Symptoms
The main symptoms of lung cancer are:
- a cough that does not go away after 3 weeks
- a long-standing cough that gets worse
- chest infections that keep coming back
- coughing up blood
- an ache or pain when breathing or coughing
- persistent breathlessness
- persistent tiredness or lack of energy
- loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms please speak to your GP.
9 times out of 10 it will not be cancer, but it is better to know. Finding it early will make it easier to treat.
Smoking
If you have lungs you can get lung cancer. But more than 7 in 10 cases of lung cancer are caused by smoking.
Stopping smoking is the most important thing you can do to reduce your risk of getting lung cancer. It also reduces your risk of getting other cancers and improves your life expectancy.
For more information about stopping smoking and other tips to live a healthy lifestyle, click on the link below.
Facts and Figures (UK)
– Lung cancer is the 3rd most common cancer in the UK.
– There are around 49,200 new lung cancer cases every year. That’s more than 130 every day.
– 72% of lung cancer cases are caused by smoking.
– 21% of lung cancer cases are caused by workplace exposures or air pollution.
Lung Cancer Screening
Lung screening is available to people aged between 55 and 74 who have ever smoked.
You must be registered with a GP in an area where screening is available, and your GP records must show that you are a current or former smoker.
The screening programme is for people with no symptoms. If you have symptoms of lung cancer you must contact your GP directly.
The survival rate of lung cancer depends on what stage the cancer is diagnosed. According to Cancer Research UK data, at the earliest stage (stage 1) more than 55% will survive their lung cancer for five years or more after diagnosis. At the latest stage (stage 4) this falls to 5%.
For more information about lung cancer screening and how it works, click on the link below.
Useful Links
You can find a lot more information about lung cancer on these external websites. You can also get support over the phone or online from dedicated lung cancer charities.
If you have any questions about the information on this page please Contact Us