New research has revealed that just over a third of people get their lungs checked when invited by the NHS to do so.
NHS teams have therefore been taking check-ups directly to people via travelling trucks that visit convenient sites like supermarkets and sports centres across the UK.
The teams have managed to diagnose 600 people with lung cancer so far with the help of these mobile check-up trucks, and have now invited more people to come get their checks done as well.
Here's what you need to know about the signs, symptoms and risk factors of lung cancer.
What are the signs and symptoms of lung cancer?
Lung cancer doesn't always cause symptoms until it starts to spread. However, some people may have early signs of the illness, so it's important to be aware.
These symptoms can often be caused by something other than lung cancer, but if you experience them it's always better to consult your doctor right away so the cause can be found. If it is cancer can be treated at earlier stages.
According to Cancer.org, the most common symptoms of lung cancer are:
- A cough that's persistent or gets worse
- Coughing up blood or rust-colored spit/phlegm
- Chest pain worsened with deep breathing, coughing, or laughing
- Hoarseness
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling tired or weak
- Persistent infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia
- New onset of wheezing
If lung cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it may also cause other symptoms like:
- Bone pain (back or hip pain)
- Changes to the nervous system like headache, weakness or numbness of an arm or leg, dizziness, balance problems, or seizures if cancer spread to the brain
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice) if cancer spread to the liver
- Swelling of lymph nodes like in the neck or above the collarbone
Who is at risk of developing lung cancer?
According to the NHS, smoking cigarettes is the single biggest risk factor for lung cancer and is responsible for over 70% of the cases.
Smoking cannabis, mixed with tobacco or without, has also been linked to an increased risk of lung cancer. It's been estimated that smoking four joints is as damaging to the lungs as smoking 20 cigarettes.
If you're not a smoker but you're frequently exposed to other people who do smoke, the passive smoking can still increase your risk of developing lung cancer.
People who may be exposed to harmful natural radioactive gas radon as well as those frequently exposed to chemicals like arsenic, asbestos, silica, coal or nickel as part of their occupation are also at risk of developing lung cancer.
The NHS has said that the mobile trucks are especially travelling to areas of the country with highest death rates from lung cancer, with those high risk being given on-the-spot chest scans.
This scheme, which is part of the NHS Targeted Lung Health Check Programme, has allowed three quarters (77%) of cancers to be caught at either stage one or two, giving people a better chance at beating the disease.
Besides lung cancer, the teams have also identified thousands of people with other undiagnosed conditions including respiratory and cardiovascular disease, enabling them to get the treatment they need earlier.
