November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

What is lung cancer?

There are two main types of primary lung cancer. These are:

• non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
• small cell lung cancer (SCLC)

Sometimes cancer spreads to the lungs from somewhere else in the body. This is called lung metastases or secondary lung cancer. Macmillan also have information about cancer that affects the lining that covers the lungs (the pleura). This is called pleural mesothelioma.

Signs and symptoms of lung cancer

Lung cancer may not always have symptoms early on. The symptoms of lung cancer can include:

• a cough for 3 weeks or more
• a change in a cough you have had for a long time
• a chest infection that does not get better, or repeated chest infections
• feeling breathless and wheezy for no reason
• coughing up blood
• losing weight for no obvious reason
• feeling tired
• chest or shoulder pain that does not get better
• a hoarse voice for 3 weeks or more.

If you have any of these symptoms, it is important to get them checked by your GP. Macmillan have more information about the signs and symptoms of lung cancer.

Lung cancer screening

In England, the NHS is beginning lung cancer screening health checks to diagnose people at risk of lung cancer at an early stage. This is for people over 55 years who smoke or used to smoke.  There are plans to start similar programmes in Scotland and Wales. You can find out more about the screening programme on the NHS website.

Want to learn more about Lung Cancer? Please click here.