Lung cancer awareness month

November is lung cancer awareness month. With around 43,500 people diagnosed each year, lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the UK. It’s important that, together, we spread awareness of lung cancer to get this number down. 

In this blog, our info team intern Roos talks you through some of the key facts about lung cancer, how to spot it, how it is treated, and where you can find more information.

A few basic facts

• There are two main types of lung cancer. The most common type is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The less common type is small cell lung cancer (SCLC) which makes up about 10% of lung cancers (1 in 10).
• Lung cancer mostly affects smokers or ex-smokers. About nine out of ten people who get lung cancer smoke or were smokers in the past. Around 10–15% of people (around 1 in 10) who get lung cancer will never have smoked.

• When people stop smoking, their risk of lung cancer falls quickly. After about 15 years it’s almost the same as a non-smoker.
• Like many cancers, lung cancer affects older people more. About 80% (8 in 10) of people with lung cancer are over 60 years of age and it is rare in people under 40.
• Treatment of lung cancer depends on the type of cancer (small cell or non-small cell) and the stage of the cancer. It can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapies.
  
  

What to look out for

One of the main symptoms of lung cancer is a cough that lasts for three weeks or more. If you have a continuing cough, or if you have noticed a change in a cough you’ve had for a while, visit your GP as soon as you can.

Other symptoms include breathlessness, a chest infection that won’t get better, and coughing up blood. We have a full list of signs and symptoms of lung cancer on our website.

In the video below, clinical oncologist Paula Wells explains what lung cancer is. She also talks about the symptoms, how it is diagnosed and treated, and how you can reduce your risk of getting lung cancer.

Getting more information or help

For more information about lung cancer, please take a look at our Understanding lung cancer booklet.

Smoking is the biggest risk factor that can increase your chances of developing lung cancer. If you smoke and need help quitting, we can help you. Check out our information on giving up smoking.

We also have an information booklet called Giving up smoking, which you may like to read if you’re living with or after cancer and would like to stop smoking.

Lloyd's story

The video below tells the story of Lloyd, who felt completely lost when he was first diagnosed with lung cancer. He explains that thanks to Emma, a Macmillan Benefit Adviser, he did not have to face his worries about missing his mortgage payments alone.

More information and support

You may also find the following organisations useful for more information and support:

• The British Lung Foundation: blf.org.uk
• The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation: roycastle.org

To see what else Macmillan's cancer information team has been blogging about, please visit our blog home page! You can subscribe to receive our blogs by email or RSS too.

We're with you every step of the way

The Macmillan team is here to help. Our cancer support specialists can answer your questions, offer support, or simply listen if you need a chat. Call us free on 0808 808 00 00.

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