The NHS has launched a lung cancer awareness campaign, urging people with symptoms including a long-standing cough to go to their GP for potentially life-saving checks.
The Help Us Help You campaign, launched on World Lung Cancer Day, comes after recent figures revealed that people at risk of lung cancer may not be coming forward for care.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in England and the fifth biggest cause of death in England.
Most other types of cancer referrals returned to pre-pandemic levels after the first wave of Covid, however, lung cancer referrals only returned to pre-pandemic levels earlier this year.
The campaign is urging the public to go to their GP if they have had a consistent cough for longer than three weeks or other symptoms such as coughing up blood and persistent breathlessness.
This campaign is targeting those most at risk including over 60s, and those from working-class backgrounds who are often more reluctant to visit their GP.
The campaign will be run on TV and video on-demand services and social media.
Professor Peter Johnson, National Clinical Director for Cancer, said: “We are going further and faster in our efforts to tackle cancer and have seen record numbers of people coming forward for tests and checks in the last year thanks to our campaigns and early diagnosis initiatives, but for lung cancer, we have not seen referrals bounce back at the same rate as other cancers.
“It is vital that people stay alert against suspected lung cancer symptoms, so if you have a continuous cough or breathlessness, don’t ignore or assume it’s something else, please visit your GP and get it checked out – it probably won’t be cancer but catching it early can help save lives”.
Cally Palmer, NHS England National Cancer Director said: “We know for a fact most people who get diagnosed with lung cancer early go on to survive so it is imperative that people are aware of the symptoms and come forward as quickly as possible.
“The NHS is here to help and our services are open so people should not hesitate to come forward if they notice potential lung cancer symptoms”.
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “We know that the earlier you catch cancer, the better the chances of survival, and the ‘Help Us Help You’ initiative is empowering people to come forward for screening – particularly for lung cancer, which is the biggest cause of death by cancer in England.
“I want to thank all those that continue to be involved in this life-saving campaign, which aims to increase the number of cancer patients diagnosed at earlier stages from half to three-quarters by 2028.
“If you have any of the key symptoms set out by the NHS, I urge you to see your GP without delay to get checked out – early diagnosis is absolutely vital to beat this disease”.
The NHS is also working with the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation to run local awareness raising campaigns.
Paula Chadwick, chief executive of Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, said: “It is absolutely vital that if you are experiencing symptoms like a persistent cough or shortness of breath that you take action and contact your GP team. Don’t put it off. Don’t presume it’s nothing to worry about. Don’t worry about bothering your doctors. It is always best to check because if it is lung cancer, catching it early can make all the difference.”
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