People who notice a persistent cough or unusual breathlessness are being urged to visit their GP to help catch lung cancer early.
NHS Lothian is backing a national campaign to encourage people with possible symptoms of lung cancer to get checked without delay.
The Scottish Government’s ‘Settling In’ campaign, urges people to contact their GP practice if they have unusual breathlessness or a new or different persistent cough for more than three weeks.
These symptoms can be early signs of lung cancer, especially if aged over 40.
The Detect Cancer Early campaign drives home that the sooner lung cancer is diagnosed, the more that can be done to treat it, in a bid to encourage people who have possible signs or symptoms to seek help.
Lung cancer is the most common cancer in Scotland, with 5,3001 people on average diagnosed each year. However latest figures show that there have been significant improvements in the proportion of people surviving in recent years, with more curative treatments available when the disease is found at an earlier stage.
Dona Milne, Director of Public Health at NHS Lothian said: “Finding and treating cancer as early as possible remains a priority for the NHS in Scotland. If you have a possible symptom of lung cancer, I’d encourage you to contact your GP practice without delay.
“Your initial appointment may be over the phone, but you’ll be invited in for a face-to-face appointment if examination or tests are needed.”
Minister for Public Health, Maree Todd added: “This important campaign is focused on raising awareness of the early signs of lung cancer which remains our most common cancer in Scotland. We’ve seen survival rates for lung cancer improve in recent years, but finding it early, when more can be done to treat it, is key.
“If someone close to you is experiencing any possible symptoms, encourage them to contact their GP practice, ultimately you might save their life.”
Dr Philip Hodkinson is Consultant Respiratory Physician and Joint National Clinical Lead for Detect Cancer Early.
He said: “More treatments with the potential to cure lung cancer are available than ever before, but finding it in its earliest stages is key to maximising treatment options.
“That’s why it’s so important that anyone experiencing symptoms visits their GP practice so that they can be assessed as soon as possible and referred, if appropriate, to the correct specialist.
“Whether you yourself have possible symptoms, or a family member or friend does, please don’t put off booking an appointment. The chance of survival is up to ten times higher if we can treat lung cancer before it spreads to other parts of the body, and a much wider range of treatment options are available. Additionally, the body can respond better to treatment when cancer is found earlier.”
For more information about the signs and symptoms of lung cancer, visit getcheckedearly.org.
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