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Did you have a cough lasting three weeks or more?

Many people don’t realise that a cough for three weeks or more could be a sign of lung cancer, so it is vital that patients act on a persistent cough and don’t wait to see if it resolves on its own.

While a cough for three weeks or more is probably nothing serious, it can be a sign of something that needs treatment. If it is cancer, finding it early means it is more treatable and can save lives.

 

A cough that lasts three weeks or more could be a warning sign

A cough that lasts three weeks or more could be a warning sign

Your NHS is here and wants to see you; visit Help Us, Help You or speak to your GP about the symptoms.

 

Key facts and statistics

  • Lung cancer GP referrals have been the slowest of all cancer types to recover since the start of the pandemic
  • Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in England with around 39,990 cases diagnosed each year. Around 89% of those are aged 60 and over
  • Lung cancer is England’s biggest cause of cancer death. In 2021, around 26,400 people died from lung cancer in England
  • In 2019, lung cancer accounted for 12% of all cancer diagnoses in England and 20% of all cancer deaths
  • Five-year survival for persons diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer is 61% compared with just 4% for those diagnosed with late stage (stage 4) lung cancer
  • Between 1995 and 2019, age-standardised incidence rates of lung cancer have increased from 50.8 per 100,000 to 67.1 per 100,000 for females. In males age-standardised incidence rates of lung cancer have decreased from 126.6 per 100,000 to 84.9 per 100,000
  • Between 2001 and 2019, age-standardised mortality rates of lung cancer have remained relatively stable between 44.7 per 100,000 and 43.4 per 100,000 for females. In males age-standardised mortality rates of lung cancer have decreased from 95.7 per 100,000 to 61.5 per 100,00

Age-related risk

  • The incidence of lung cancer increases with age: 89% of cases are diagnosed in those aged 60 and older

Published: Aug 5, 2022