Lung Cancer Awareness Month
Lung Cancer Awareness month takes place every November in the UK. The aim of the campaign is to encourage individuals displaying the common symptoms of lung cancer, such as a persist cough, breathlessness or unexplained weight-lost to visit their GP.
Lung cancer is the UK’s biggest cancer killer, claiming the lives of more than 33,500 people in the UK every year – more than leukaemia, breast and prostate cancer combined.
There are two main types of primary lung cancer: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
Signs and symptoms of lung cancer
Lung cancer may not always have symptoms early on.
The symptoms of lung cancer can include:
- a cough for 3 weeks or more
- a change in a cough you have had for a long time
- a chest infection that does not get better, or repeated chest infections
- feeling breathless and wheezy for no reason
- coughing up blood
- chest or shoulder pain that does not get better
- a hoarse voice for 3 weeks or more.