Don’t ignore a persistent cough

News from our partners Public Health England

Figures reveal people in the Midlands and east of England are unaware of symptoms of lung cancer.

Almost 24,000 people a year in England receive a lung cancer diagnosis when the disease is at a late stage [1] – only around 15 per cent of cases are diagnosed at the earliest stage, when treatment is most likely to be successful. 

The next phase of the NHS Be Clear on Cancer campaign launches today (Wednesday 3 July 2013) to drive awareness of the signs and symptoms of lung cancer and to encourage people with a persistent cough to see their GP early. 

Lung cancer is currently England’s biggest cancer killer, causing around 28,000 deaths each year, with 8,172 cases in the Midlands and east of England [2].  Those diagnosed at the earliest stage are five times more likely to survive lung cancer for at least five years than those diagnosed at a late stage. [3]

One of the reasons behind the Midland and east of England’s low early diagnosis rate is the public’s lack of awareness about the disease and its symptoms.  New survey data shows [4]:

• Almost 75 per cent of people in the Midlands and east of England are unaware that lung cancer is England’s biggest cancer killer;
• Despite the fact that lung cancer is most common in people aged over 50, 27 per cent of people in the Midlands and east of England think that all age groups are equally at risk of lung cancer;
• 38 per cent of people are unaware that a cough that has lasted three weeks or more is a potential symptom of lung cancer. 

The Be Clear on Cancer campaign, which first ran in summer 2012, aims to make people aware of the symptoms of lung cancer and encourage them to visit their GP if they have had a cough for three weeks or more.  

Dr Rashmi Shukla, Regional Director for PHE Midlands and east of England, said: 

“The figures from the Midlands and east of England show that more needs to be done to raise awareness of the signs of lung cancer and ultimately save more lives. 

“Results from previous activity in the Midlands and east of England are really encouraging, but awareness levels of a persistent cough as a symptom of lung cancer are still low.  Only by increasing awareness of potential symptoms, and encouraging people to visit their doctor sooner rather than later, will we see the number of early diagnoses, and people surviving the disease, start to rise. 

“There will be local events to raise awareness in the coming weeks but, if you spot any of the symptoms, do visit your GP.” 

Dr Helen Carter, Consultant in Healthcare Public Health for PHE West Midlands, said: 

“In 2010 2,924 people died from lung cancer in the West Midlands region, with 3,484 cases of lung cancer registered in total that year; making our region the third worst in the country.  We can improve these figures by raising public awareness of the signs of lung cancer, to aid early diagnosis, and by encouraging people to stop smoking.  Anyone thinking of quitting smoking should call the NHS Smokefree Helpline for details of their local stop smoking service.”