Spot Lung Cancer Earlier Campaign WalesSpot Lung Cancer Earlier Campaign Wales
Talk to your GP, not yourself
Cancer Research UK have launched a campaign in partnership with NHS Wales to support more people to spot lung cancer early.
A cough that's lasted for three weeks or more? Unexplained weight loss? Breathlessness? It's always best to get it checked out.
Lung cancer symptoms
When it comes to spotting cancer, the best thing you can do is listen to your body. Don’t ignore changes that are unusual for you.
Some key signs of lung cancer include:
- Feeling short of breath or having difficulty breathing
- A cough that won’t go away
- Losing weight without trying to
Whatever the change, if it’s not normal for you, speak to your doctor. In most cases, it won’t be cancer. But if it is, finding it early can make a real difference.
Who can develop lung cancer?
Anyone can develop lung cancer whether you smoke or not, but it is more common as we get older and in people who smoke. Most cases of lung cancer diagnosed in Wales are in people aged 50 and over.
If something doesn’t feel quite right, no matter who you are, what your age is, or what you think is causing your symptoms, your doctor wants to hear from you.
Don’t put unusual changes down to ‘just’ getting older or another condition you may have. If something’s unusual for you – don’t ignore it, contact your GP practice.
Finding cancer early saves lives.
I’m not sure if my symptoms are serious
Remember, you know your body best. If something doesn’t look or feel quite right, your GP wants to hear from you. It’s not your job to know what’s wrong, but it’s your job to listen to your body. Whether it’s a cough that has lasted 3 weeks or more, or you’re getting out of breath doing the things you used to do without a problem, if something’s unusual for you – it’s always best to get it checked out. In most cases, it won’t be cancer, but if it is, spotting it early could make all the difference.
Getting a GP appointment
If you’ve not been able to get an appointment on your first try, please do stick with it. Even when your GP practice is very busy, they are doing everything they can to speak to you as soon as possible. They may even be able to suggest a suitable health professional who can help you sooner than your GP.
Some GP practices offer more than one way of booking an appointment. This can include phoning, filling in an e-consultation or form online, and walk-in clinics. If you’ve already tried one method of getting in touch, find out what other options your GP practice has to offer on their website.
How to register with a GP
Live in Wales? Make sure you have registered with a local GP.
You’ll be able to make appointments more easily and it means you will automatically receive invitations to cancer screening - a key early detection method for people with no symptoms - when you become eligible.