Stoptober is a 28-day challenge which aims to help smokers quit for good, for the benefit of their own health and those around them. It’s never too late to quit and smokers will start to see the benefits immediately, not only on their health but on their finances too.
Smoking cigarettes is the single biggest risk factor for lung cancer and it’s responsible for more than 70% of cases, says the NHS. In conjunction with Stoptober taking place this month, a UK medical negligence firm has given advice about the red flag symptoms of lung cancer to look out for.
Medical Negligence Solicitor Kim Jackson, from Patient Claim Line, addresses the most important questions to help Brits spot signs of lung cancer and advises what to do if your doctor has missed your symptoms.
What are the red flag symptoms of lung cancer?
“Red flag symptoms include a persistent cough that can deteriorate, coughing up blood and chest pain that is worse with deep breathing, coughing or laughing," said Kim. “A loss of appetite, weight loss that cannot be explained and fatigue are also key signs of lung cancer. Watch out for hoarseness, breathlessness, a new onset of wheezing and infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia that are persistent.”
How does smoking lead to cancer?
Kim said: “In the UK over 70% of lung cancer cases are as a result of smoking. It is believed that smoking causes lung cancer by damaging the lining of the lungs. Cigarette smoke contains carcinogens, which changes the lung tissue. Over time, the damage that is being caused to the lung tissue causes cells to act abnormally and this is when cancer develops.”
What should a doctor/medical professional do upon recognising the red flag symptoms of lung cancer?
“If you visit your GP with symptoms suggestive of lung cancer, a GP should examine you and ask you to breathe into a device called a spirometer, which measures how much air you breathe in and out. A blood test might be requested to rule out some of the possible causes of your symptoms. The main test to diagnose lung cancer is a chest X-ray. A CT scan will also be advised as well as a PET-CT scan," said Kim.
What happens if lung cancer isn’t treated quickly?
Kim said: “More than half of people diagnosed with lung cancer will die within one year of diagnosis, even with treatment. Obviously, the sooner lung cancer is detected, the greater chance you have of survival. However, it all depends on the staging of the lung cancer and the health of the person overall.”
What are my legal rights if I’ve experienced a delayed lung cancer diagnosis and could I be entitled to compensation?
Kim said: “A person has three years from their date of knowledge to bring a claim before a court. In order to establish negligence, a person must prove that there has been a breach of duty of care and as a result, causation has arisen i.e. a person has suffered injury as a direct result of negligence.
"It can be difficult to be successful in a claim for negligence in cancer cases, particularly when proving causation. It might be that, while there has been a delay in diagnosing cancer, the outcome might not have been any different in any event.”
