November is Lung Cancer awareness month, aiming to make people aware of the signs and symptoms to look out for.

It originally started off as an awareness day but momentum around this grew and it developed into an awareness month. The NHS says that lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer and around 47,000 people are diagnosed with it every year in the UK alone.

The NHS says that the main symptoms of lung cancer often develop as the condition progresses and can include;

• A cough that does not go away after two to three weeks
• A long-standing cough that gets worse
• Chest infections that keep coming back
• Coughing up blood
• An ache or pain when breathing or coughing
• Persistent breathlessness
• Persistent tiredness or lack of energy
• Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss

If you have any of the above symptoms Macmillan recommend you see your GP, particularly if you are over 40 or currently are, or previously were, a smoker. (Although you do not have to have been a smoker to develop lung cancer).

Lung cancer can be treated, but as with most cancers, the outcome is better the earlier it is diagnosed and often the symptoms only develop once the disease has progressed.

According to Cancer Research UK, cancer can sometimes spread to the lungs from elsewhere in the body which is called a ‘metastases’.

Cancer Negligence Claims

Catching cancer early on improves the chances of survival considerably, which is why it can be so devastating if you experience medical negligence at any time in your cancer diagnosis or treatment. Medical professionals have a legal and professional obligation to provide their patients with an accurate diagnosis and subsequent treatment. Should cancer be misdiagnosed due to an error, your access to the right treatment may be delayed, and your condition may become more severe as a result. Our experts are here to help you if you believe you have a cancer negligence claim.