PRO11773_NHS_LungCancer_1x1_2.jpgLung cancer GP referrals have been the slowest of all cancer types to recover since the start of the pandemic.

The key symptoms of lung cancer is a cough that lasts for three weeks or more.

Today, North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) in association with NHS England is launching the ‘Help Us, Help You’ lung cancer campaign to encourage people with a cough lasting three weeks or more to contact their GP practice.

Many people don’t realise that a persistent cough – which lasts for three weeks or more - could be a sign of lung cancer, and so it is vital that patients act and don’t wait to see if it resolves on its own.

While a cough for three weeks or more is probably nothing serious, it can be a sign of something that needs treatment. If it is cancer, finding it early means it is more treatable and can save lives.

We are encouraging those who have this symptom to contact their GP practice.

When cancer is diagnosed early, treatment is more likely to be successful.

In 2019, there were 151 female cases of lung cancer and 155 male cases of lung cancer registered in north Cumbria. In the same year there were 106 female deaths from lung cancer and 101 male deaths.

The incidence of lung cancer increases with age: 89 per cent of cases are diagnosed in those aged 60 and older.

In 2021, 35.5 per cent of all cancers in England were diagnosed via an emergency presentation. Those diagnosed through emergency presentations are often at an advanced stage, resulting in poorer survival.

More than four in 10 cases of cancer could be prevented, largely through lifestyle changes such as not smoking, keeping a healthy bodyweight, eating a healthy balanced diet and cutting down on alcohol.

Visit nhs.uk/cancersymptoms for more information.

KEY FACTS

• Lung cancer GP referrals have been the slowest of all cancer types to recover since the start of the pandemic.

• Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in England with around 39,990 cases diagnosed each year. Around 89 per cent of those are aged 60 and over.

• Lung cancer is England’s biggest cause of cancer death. In 2021, around 26,400 people died from lung cancer in England.

• In 2019, lung cancer accounted for 12 per cent of all cancer diagnoses in England and 20 per cent of all cancer deaths.

• Five-year survival for persons diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer is 61 per cent compared with just 4 per cent for those diagnosed with late stage (stage 4) lung cancer.

• Between 1995 and 2019, age-standardised incidence rates of lung cancer have increased from 50.8 per 100,000 to 67.1 per 100,000 for females. In males age standardised incidence rates of lung cancer have decreased from 126.6 per 100,000 to 84.9 per 100,000.

• Between 2001 and 2019, age-standardised mortality rates of lung cancer have remained relatively stable between 44.7 per 100,000 and 43.4 per 100,000 for females. In males age-standardised mortality rates of lung cancer have decreased from 95.7 per 100,000 to 61.5 per 100,000.