Don’t let lung cancer make itself at home

Lung cancer is the most common cancer in Scotland, with around 5,500 people diagnosed each year, however more can be done to treat the disease if it’s found early. There are two key symptoms we can all look out for, whether it is ourselves experiencing them, a member of our family or a friend.

A bold national Detect Cancer Early campaign is underway throughout June that highlights the risks of letting lung cancer ‘settle in’, depicting the common early symptoms of the disease which include unusual breathlessness or a persistent cough, that’s new or different, and lasts over three weeks.

The campaign which is running across TV, out of home and digital advertising encourages people aged over 40 with potential lung cancer symptoms to contact their GP practice without delay.

The campaign has been designed to drive home that the sooner lung cancer is found, the easier it is to treat, and remind people that diagnosing and treating cancer remains a priority for NHS Scotland.

To find out more about the potential signs and symptoms of lung cancer, and how your GP practice is operating during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit getcheckedearly.org.

Get checked early

If you have unusual breathlessness or a new or different persistent cough for more than three weeks, get checked, especially if you’re over 40. These symptoms can be an early sign of lung cancer, so don’t delay contacting your GP practice.

While it’s probably nothing to worry about, it’s worth getting checked as the sooner lung cancer is found, the easier it is to treat. Find out more at getcheckedearly.org.