Clatterbridge consultant urges people to be aware of lung cancer symptoms
Posted 1st August 2022
A lung cancer consultant at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre is urging people to watch for signs and symptoms of the disease on World Lung Cancer Day.
Around 47,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with lung cancer each year and it is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide. In 2017, 1,586 people died of lung cancer in Merseyside and Cheshire.
Dr Tony Pope, Consultant in Clinical Oncology at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, said that lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths worldwide, which is why early detection of the disease is vital.
And he has used World Lung Cancer Day (1st August) as an opportunity to raise awareness of the risk factors, early detection and the prevention of the disease.
Many people don’t realise that a cough for three weeks or more could be a sign of lung cancer, and so it is vital that patients act on a persistent cough and don’t wait to see if it resolves on its own.
Dr Pope said: “Regular exercise and a balanced diet can keep your lungs healthy, but some lifestyle choices can increase your chances of developing cancer. Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer and accounts for almost 72% of cases. However, people who have never smoked can still develop lung cancer.”
Although there are usually no clear signs in the early stages of lung cancer, symptoms can develop later, and Dr Pope urges people to look out for these warning signals:
- A persistent cough
- Coughing up blood
- Persistent breathlessness
- Unexplained tiredness and weight loss
- An ache or pain when breathing or coughing
- Chest infections that keep coming back
Dr Pope said people should contact their GP practice as soon as possible if they have any of these symptoms which last for three weeks or more.
He added: “It is probably not cancer but if it is, an early diagnosis can mean cancer is easier to treat and treatment is more likely to be successful.”
To learn more about lung cancer click here or here. go to https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lung-cancer/or https://www.nhs.uk/cancersymptoms.
