“Don’t ignore a persistent cough”, warns lung cancer roadshow

Lung cancer is England’s biggest cancer killer, yet new statistics reveal that 37 per cent of people in the North West would not visit their doctor to report a cough for three or more weeks, one of the key symptoms of lung cancer. 

Those diagnosed at the earliest stage are five times more likely to survive lung cancer for at least five years than those diagnosed at a late stage.

New data also showed that in the North West:

• Over a third (35 per cent) would wait one month or longer before visiting their GP with a persistent cough 
• Over a quarter (27 per cent) stated that they had not previously reported a cough for three weeks or more to their doctor 
• 81 per cent of those who did not report their cough to a doctor did so as they presumed it would clear up on its own 
• One in ten (11 per cent) thought that only smokers are at risk of developing lung cancer 

The next phase of the NHS Be Clear on Cancer lung cancer campaign has been launched to drive awareness of the signs and symptoms of lung cancer and to encourage people with a persistent cough to see their GP early.

To support the campaign the Be Clear on Cancer roadshow will be visiting shopping centres across England over the next three weeks, including the Middleton Shopping Centre on 19 and 20 July/

At the Be Clear on Cancer event, a nurse will be on hand to talk in more depth with anyone who is worried about a cough and give advice on visiting their GP.

Dr Martyn Regan, Centre Director at PHE Greater Manchester, said: “The figures from the North West show that more needs to be done to raise awareness of the signs of lung cancer and ultimately save more lives.

“Only by increasing awareness of potential symptoms, and encouraging people to visit their doctor sooner rather than later, will we see the number of early diagnoses, and people surviving the disease, start to rise.”