Lung cancer awareness campaign to be repeated in England

Public Health England has announced plans to re-run a Be Clear on Cancer campaign from 2012 that helped to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of lung cancer.

Adverts will run on TV, radio and in the press until the end of April 2014 encouraging people to visit their GP if they have had a cough for three weeks or more – a key symptom of the disease.

The initiative originally ran in England from May to July 2012, with recent data showing that around 700 extra people were diagnosed with lung cancer in these months, when compared to the same period in the previous year.

Of these, around 400 more people were diagnosed at an early stage and around 300 more patients had surgery, greatly increasing their chances of prolonged survival.

Professor Kevin Fenton, national director of health and wellbeing at Public Health England, said: "Finding lung cancer early makes it more treatable so it's important to know the symptoms and, if you spot any, visit your doctor straight away – it could save your life."

Lung cancer is currently England’s biggest cancer killer, causing around 28,100 deaths each year. Other symptoms include coughing up blood, persistent breathlessness, unexplained tiredness and weight loss, or an ache or pain when breathing or coughing.