Lung cancer awareness events – know the symptoms

Public awareness events to help people recognise the early symptoms of lung cancer and how to keep lungs healthy launches through the week beginning on 15th October 2012 in Hertfordshire.

The events will be supported by The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and staff from our smoking cessation team who are promoting the national Stoptober campaign.    Visitors to the events will be able to see a giant pair of MEGA lungs® demonstrating how lungs work as well as being able to talk to medical staff and volunteers who have survived lung cancer.

The events take place as follows:-

• Monday 15th October 2012 – The Howard Centre Foyer, Welwyn Garden City. 11am to 4pm.
• Wednesday 17th October 2012 – The Harlequin Shopping Centre, Watford.   9am to 6pm
• Thursday 18th October 2012 – The Forum at the University of Hertfordshire College Lane Campus, Hatfield – 9am to 4pm.

The campaign focuses on a simple message – that an unexplained cough which lasts for 3 weeks or more, needs checking out by a GP.
Dr Phil Sawyer, a Hertfordshire GP who is championing the campaign appears on the event posters.  He said: “It is important to get possible symptoms checked out because cancer caught early is easier to treat or cure”.
“If you’re aged 50 or above and have a cough that lasts longer than usual – more than 3 weeks, or you’re coughing up small amounts of blood, then please make an appointment to see your GP.

“Coughs can be caused by lots of different things and people who just have a lingering cold shouldn’t be worried. But an unexplained 3-week cough can be an early sign of lung cancer. Your GP may send you for a simple chest x-ray at the hospital which will help to identify any problems you may have with your lungs. It will probably turn out not to be serious, but if it is cancer, finding and treating it early will make a real difference.

Barbara Gill is Director of the Mount Vernon Cancer Network, which brings together all the people and organisations involved in cancer care across Hertfordshire, Luton and South Bedfordshire. She said: “Early detection is the best way of improving survival rates for most types of cancer. At the moment not enough people are aware of the symptoms of lung cancer which means that the disease is often diagnosed at a late stage when the cancer is more advanced and much more difficult to treat.”

“This campaign is doing a valuable job in raising awareness of the key symptoms and pointing people in the direction of their GP if they do have any of these signs.”

You can find out more about lung cancer symptoms by visiting www.3weekcough.org

• Watford poster
• Welwyn Garden City poster

ENDS

Notes to editors

• The public awareness campaign runs in Hertfordshire during October 2012 using bus shelter and phone box advertising and a series of awareness raising events in conjunction with The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and the Stoptober campaign.
• The MEGA Lungs® provides visitors with a highly interactive, educational experience about the respiratory system's most critical organs.