Council urges lung cancer awareness

More than 400 people in Nottinghamshire are killed by lung cancer each year, so Nottinghamshire County Council is urging people to look out for the possible symptoms of the disease.

The Be Clear on Cancer campaign is particularly encouraging anyone with a cough that lasts for three weeks or more to see their doctor, as finding lung cancer early makes it more treatable.

The most recent data for 2011 reveals that 518 people across Nottinghamshire were diagnosed with lung cancer, and 418 people died of the disease, with the majority of cases occurring in those over the age of 50.

Coun Joyce Bosnjak, chair of the Nottinghamshire health and wellbeing board, said: “Lung cancer is the biggest killer in terms of cancer nationally, but it can be treated – especially if there’s an early diagnosis.

“Quite simply, more lives could be saved if people were diagnosed at an earlier stage.”

Other possible symptoms include a cough that has got worse, coughing up blood, repeated chest infections, breathlessness, feeling more tired than usual for some time, losing weight for no obvious reason and a ache or pain in the chest or shoulder that has lasted some time. For more information see www.nhs.uk/be-clear-on-cancer/lung-cancer.