Lung cancer symptoms you must not ignore after NHS Scotland issues warning

dailyrecord.co.uk:

People experiencing symptoms linked to lung cancer are being urged to contact their GP as soon as possible in a bid to catch the disease early.An NHS campaign, Help Us Help You, launched last year aims to target those most at risk of developing the life threatening disease.

The groups most at risk include those aged 60 and over and people from working class backgrounds who are often more reluctant to visit their local doctor.

Lung cancer is the most common cause of death from cancer in Scotland, with nearly a quarter of all cancer deaths attributed to lung cancer, according to Public Health Scotland figures.

If caught early, the disease is often more treatable and therefore early diagnosis can be life saving. Professor Peter Johnson, national clinical director for cancer, said: "For lung cancer, we have not seen referrals bounce back at the same rate as other cancers."It is vital that people stay alert against suspected lung cancer symptoms, so if you have a continuous cough or breathlessness, don't ignore or assume it's something else, please visit your GP and get it checked out – it probably won't be cancer but catching it early can help save lives."Lung cancer symptoms include a persistent cough that remains for three weeks or longer, coughing up blood, or persistent breathlessness.Health Secretary Steve Barclay said: "We know that the earlier you catch cancer, the better the chances of survival, and the Help Us Help You initiative is empowering people to come forward for screening – particularly for lung cancer, which is the biggest cause of death by cancer in England."I want to thank all those that continue to be involved in this lifesaving campaign, which aims to increase the number of cancer patients diagnosed at