Lung

Symptoms

Nagging persistent cough	Coughing up blood
Wheezing and shortness of breath	Chest, shoulder or back pain
Recurrent chest infections	Unexplained weight loss
Hoarsness	Loss of appetite

If you are a smoker or have been and have any of the symptoms listed above do not hesitate to go to your GP and get checked out.  These symptoms may have other causes and do not necessarily mean you have lung cancer but the earlier a cancer is diagnosed the greater the chance the treatment will be successful.

Risk Factors

Smoking is the major cause of lung cancer (90%). Your risk increases: the younger you are when you start smoking - with the number of cigarettes you smoke - with the number of years you smoke. Passive smoking also increases your risk of lung cancer. A non smoker who lives with a smoker has a greater risk of developing lung cancer.

Radon gas occurs naturally in some parts of the UK. If you are exposed to radon you are more likely to develop lung cancer.

Asbestos and other chemicals - people who have worked with asbestos have a seven times greater risk of developing lung cancer than the general population. Chemicals such as arsenic, vinyl chloride, nickel chromate, coal products, mustard gas and chloromethyl ethers may increase the risk of lung cancer.

How is lung cancer diagnosed?

Chest X-rays	Lung biopsy
Bonchoscopy	CT, MRI, or other scans
Mediastinoscopy

Bronchchoscopy

• a narrow flexible tube called a bronchoscope is put down your throat and into the airway.  The doctor can see into your airways and also take samples of tissue and cells during the procedure.

Mediastinoscopy

• the mediastinum is an area in the centre of your chest between your lungs.  This test is done under a general anaesthetic.  The doctor makes a small cut at the base of the neck and inserts a tube to examine the area and take tissue samples for examination.

Lung biopsy

• this procedure is performed under local anaesthetic - it can be uncomfortable but only takes a few minutes.  A thin needle is guided to the suspect area with the help of X-rays, CT scan or ultrasound.  The cell samples taken can then be examined under a microscope.

 

What is Cobalt doing to help people who want to quit smoking?

Quitting smoking is by far the most important step you can take to improve your health and the health of others around you. Smoking can cause cancer of the:

Mouth	Nose	Oesophogus	Larynx	Kidney
Stomach	Pancreas	Bladder	Lung	Cervix

 

34,000 good reasons to quit

Every year 38,000 people are newly diagnosed with lung cancer if we didn't smoke that number would fall to 4,000.  Half of all smokers eventually die from cancer, or other smoking-related illnesses. And a quarter of smokers die in middle age, between 35 and 69.

What is Cobalt doing to help people who want to quit smoking?

If you need help to quit we have smoke stop packs which contain lots of tips and information to help prepare you to quit.  For additional smoke stop support or one to one counselling - contact your local NHS Stop Smoking Service they offer free local support that really works. Free NHS helpline 0800 022 4332.

If you need help to quit we have smoke stop packs which contain lots of tips and information to help prepare you to quit.  For additional smoke stop support or one to one counselling - contact your local NHS Stop Smoking Service they offer free local support that really works. Free NHS helpline 0800 022 4332.