Early diagnosis saves lives

Symptoms of lung cancer include a persistent cough, breathlessness, recurrent chest infection, back or shoulder pain, fatigue, hoarseness, or swelling in the face or neck. If you see persistent or unexplained symptoms on your patients, please consider referring them for a chest Xray under the Faster Diagnosis Standard.

  • Brenda, 64 / Never-smoker / Symptom: Persistent cough

    Brenda, 64 / Never-smoker / Symptom: Persistent cough

  • Jaber, 37 / Never-smoker / Symptoms: Persistent cough, Breathlessness

    Jaber, 37 / Never-smoker / Symptoms: Persistent cough, Breathlessness

  • Mark, 49 / Occasional smoker / Symptoms: Back pain, Breathlessness

    Mark, 49 / Occasional smoker / Symptoms: Back pain, Breathlessness

  • Amelia, 26 / Non-smoker / Symptoms: Back pain, Persistent cough

    Amelia, 26 / Non-smoker / Symptoms: Back pain, Persistent cough

  • Debbie, 46 / Never-smoker / Symptom: Swelling in neck

    Debbie, 46 / Never-smoker / Symptom: Swelling in neck

  • Pete, 50 / Never-smoker / Symptom: Recurrent chest infection

    Pete, 50 / Never-smoker / Symptom: Recurrent chest infection

  • Razia, 37 / Never-smoker / Symptoms: Persistent chest & rib pain

    Razia, 37 / Never-smoker / Symptoms: Persistent chest & rib pain

  • Cameron, 52 / Never-smoker / Symptoms: Fatigue, Persistent cough

    Cameron, 52 / Never-smoker / Symptoms: Fatigue, Persistent cough

  • Faye, 28 / Never-smoker / Symptoms: Back pain, Persistent cough

    Faye, 28 / Never-smoker / Symptoms: Back pain, Persistent cough

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in the UK, with only 16% of patients expected to survive more than five years, and over half being diagnosed with advanced metastatic disease. It can affect anyone, smokers and non-smokers alike, with lung cancer in never-smokers now the UK’s 8th most common cause of cancer-related death. Early investigation and referral is the key to improving outcomes.

Questions for professionals

When certain symptoms are persistent, it could be a sign of lung cancer.
Chances are it’s nothing serious but early diagnosis can improve chances of survival.

General Practitioners

Do you ever consider lung cancer as a possible diagnosis and refer patients for chest x-ray when presented with persistent or unexplained symptoms, even if the patient has never smoked or is young?

Physiotherapists

Do you ever encourage clients with unexplained or persistent back and/or shoulder pain to visit their GP for lung cancer screening?

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Pharmacists

Do you ever encourage clients who present with persistent symptoms and regularly purchase over the counter remedies to speak to their GP about it?

Resources for primary care professionals

Lung Cancer in Never-Smokers

2019 article from the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine on the incidence of lung cancer in never-smokers

Early Diagnosis Matters report

Report from the UKLCC’s Clinical Advisory Group (CAG) making the case for early and rapid diagnosis.

NICE guidelines NG 12

Advice on lung cancer diagnosis and management in both small-cell and non-small cell lung cancer.

GatewayC

Recommendations on differentiating symptoms by the Clinical Expert Group for lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Lung cancer and Covid-19

Primary Care Respiratory Society

Support focused on developing a holistic, high value approach to caring for people with respiratory conditions.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Utilising community pharmacists to support people with cancer, a guide on how community pharmacists can support early diagnosis and screening of cancers.

Primary Care Respiratory Society, Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Article and webinar on See Through The Symptoms campaign.

Lung cancer in never smokers with Dr Fabio Gomes: The ALK +mutation in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Dr Fabio Gomes, a Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, discusses lung cancer in never smokers

Back pain as an indication of lung cancer

When Back Pain Turns Deadly: An Unusual Presentation of Lung Cancer – ScienceDirect, by Vasser, M. and Koroscil, M, 2020​

GatewayC is a free online cancer education platform developed for primary care professionals across England aiming to improve cancer outcomes by facilitating earlier diagnosis and improving patient experience

Organisations that can support your patients

EGFR Positive UK

EGFR Positive UK

Specialist lung cancer charity focused on supporting and improving the overall survival and quality of life of EGFR positive patients across the UK.

ALK Positive UK

ALK Positive UK

Lung cancer charity specialising in providing support, advocacy, and a better quality of life for all ALK positive lung cancer patients across the United Kingdom.

Ruth Strauss Foundation

Ruth Strauss Foundation

Supporting families who are facing the death of a parent to cancer and driving the need for more research into non-smoking lung cancers.

Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation

Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation

UK lung cancer charity dedicated to supporting everyone affected by the disease, from diagnosis to end of life care.

Cancer Research UK

Cancer Research UK

The world's leading independent cancer charity, committed to saving lives through research, influence and information.

Macmillan Cancer Support

Macmillan Cancer Support

One of the UK’s largest charities providing physical, emotional and financial support to those living with cancer.

This campaign was developed in collaboration with BTOG and with the support of the following organisations.