will be on hand to talk to members of the public and encourage those with suspected symptoms to visit their GP as soon as possible.
This comes as survey data also shows that just over a third (34%) of South Asian people surveyed would visit their GP if they had a chest infection that kept coming back, and a similar percentage would do the same if they had a loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss (36%), which are lesser-known signs of lung cancer.
Dr. Jyoti Sood said:
“Tens of thousands of people are diagnosed with lung cancer every year in England, but it’s clear from the survey that many people in our community still think it’s not something that can affect them. This campaign is really important in raising awareness of the symptoms – like a cough lasting for three weeks or more – and encouraging people to get seen by a medical professional as early as possible. We know that early diagnosis gives the best chance of effective treatment and survival.’
Chief Executive of Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, Paula Chadwick, said: “It is staggering that so many of those surveyed still do not know how prevalent lung cancer is. We believe this stems from a reluctance, even aversion, to talking about lung cancer, and that is largely because of its links to smoking and associated stigma.
“That’s why these events are so important. They give us the opportunity to have one-on-one conversations with people who may not realise they are at risk, who may not recognise potential symptoms or could feel unable to act on them.
“If we can help just one person get diagnosed earlier when lung cancer can be treated more easily, then that is worth doing”.
The roadshow will travel around the country throughout the month of November – Lung Cancer Awareness Month – as part of the NHS Help Us, Help You campaign. The roadshow aims to begin conversations about the illness and its symptoms.
The NHS’s Help Us, Help You lung cancer campaign focuses specifically on raising awareness of the key symptom of lung cancer – a cough that lasts for three weeks or more. While it might seem like nothing serious, if it is cancer, finding it early means it’s more treatable and can save lives. The campaign will encourage those who have this symptom to contact their GP practice and remind the public that the NHS wants to see them.
In addition to the symptom of a cough for three weeks or more, other symptoms of lung cancer include:
chest infections that keep coming back
coughing up blood
a long-standing cough that gets worse
an ache or pain when breathing or coughing
- persistent breathlessness
persistent tiredness or lack of energy
Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss.