Lung Cancer

Lung cancer starts in the windpipe (trachea), the main airway (bronchus) or the lung tissue. Cancer that starts in the lung is called primary lung cancer.

Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK. Around 48,500 people are diagnosed in the UK each year.

Lung cancer gets more common as you get older. Around 45 out of 100 people (45%) diagnosed with lung cancer in the UK are aged 75yrs and older.

More than 70 out of 100 (more than 70%) of lung cancer cases in the UK are caused by smoking.

Other risk factors include:

Exposure to radon gas, certain chemicals in the workplace, family history of lung cancer. Certain cancer treatments for other types of 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.
• 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.