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The Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) is marking Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November by raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of Northern Ireland’s biggest cancer killer.
Although lung cancer is strongly linked to tobacco, around 1 in 6 people diagnosed have never smoked
In Northern Ireland there are approximately 900 people diagnosed with lung cancer every year with around 800 deaths. Lung cancer is a very serious disease and locally it is the most common form of cancer deaths in men and women, with a prognosis of only 10% survival 5 years after diagnosis.
Common symptoms of lung cancer include:
These symptoms may be due to many other causes but it is worth getting checked out by your GP. Getting checked by your GP as early as possible could save your life!
Gerry McElwee, Head of Cancer Prevention, UCF said
"Early detection of lung cancer is the difference between life and death. If detected early patients can often undergo surgery which greatly increases their chance of a cure.
"Although lung cancer is strongly linked to tobacco, around 1 in 6 people diagnosed have never smoked, therefore it is important to be aware of what symptoms to look out for.
"If you are a smoker, it is especially important to get any symptoms checked, as 15-20% of current smokers develop lung cancer at some point in their life. Smoking is responsible for around 90% of all deaths from lung cancer."
To raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of the disease during Lung Cancer Awareness Month UCF will continue to provide public health stands and train health professionals on the importance of smoking cessation as a means of preventing lung cancer.
In recent years lung cancer rates have been falling in men, however they continue to increase in women. This is a direct result in the drop in prevalence of smoking amongst men, while we have yet to observe such a fall in female smokers.
Gerry continued:
"The introduction of smoke-free legislation should greatly reduce the prevalence of lung cancer in years to come, however, the government must introduce further policies of tobacco control. The Health Minister’s recent announcement that he is holding a 12-week public consultation on whether the minimum age of the sale of tobacco products should be raised from 16 to 18 years of age is certainly a step in the right direction.
"UCF strongly recommend that the public and health professionals respond to this consultation and vote to increase the tobacco sales age to 18. The majority of smokers become addicted to cigarettes before they reach the age of 18, so raising the age at which young people can buy cigarettes will help to reduce the number of smokers overall.
"We know that smoking is the largest single cause of preventable death and ill health and is dangerous at any age, but the younger people start smoking the more likely they are to develop serious health effects in later life."
If you are a smoker, why not make this Lung Cancer Awareness Month your time for quitting? The younger you are the better as it will greatly reduce your risk of developing lung cancer. Smokers can quadruple their chances of success if they combine nicotine replacement therapy with stop smoking support services. UCF have provided almost 30 clinics in the last year and have helped over 50% of those attending to stop smoking within four weeks.
UCF’s award winning smoking cessation service is supported by the Eastern Health and Social Services Board and is free and confidential. Weekly smoking cessation advice clinics are provided in a number of GP practices as well as leisure centres, community centres and workplaces, at a time convenient to smokers who want to give up.
Anyone wanting to attend the stop smoking support clinics can either be referred by their GP or can contact Bernie Neeson at UCF on Tel. 028 9066 3281 for information on their nearest support clinic. Stop smoking services are also available in some GP practices and pharmacies across Northern Ireland.
For your nearest service call Tel. 0800 85 85 85.
If you have any concerns about cancer or would like information on your nearest cancer support group please call UCF’s free cancer information and support helpline on 0800 783 3339 which operates Mon – Fri from 9am – 5pm or alternatively you can email your queries or concerns to infocis@ulstercancer.org
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