The cost of a doctor’s visit is the main barrier for people not attending their GP to get early lung cancer symptoms checked.
New research by the Irish Cancer Society also found that one in two people are not confident in spotting early signs of lung cancer - with younger people being least aware of the signs and symptoms.
In Ireland almost 2,700 people are diagnosed with lung cancer each year.
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Lung cancer is also the leading cause of cancer death in the country, with around 1,800 people dying from the disease annually.
It is projected that by 2045, the number of those diagnosed with lung cancer on a yearly basis will increase to around 5,757 people.
Some of the common symptoms of lung cancer include wheezing or difficulty breathing, a cough that doesn’t go away or a change in a long-term cough, repeated chest infections that won’t go away, even after antibiotics and coughing up blood-stained phlegm.
Throughout November, the Irish Cancer Society is running a free nurse-led Lung Health Roadshow in shopping centres throughout the country - including Navan, Letterkenny and Dundalk.
The aim of the Roadshow is to help the public identify symptoms they should not ignore and to reduce the likelihood of cost as a barrier to healthcare.
According to the latest available data from The National Cancer Registry Ireland, six in 10 lung cancers are diagnosed at stage three or four which reduces patients’ eligibility for curative treatment and reduces survival.
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