Southend Hospital's got lowdown on lung cancer (From Echo)

Southend Hospital's got lowdown on lung cancer

9:20am Thursday 12th November 2009 in News

A CAMPAIGN has been launched by Southend Hospital to highlight the symptoms of lung cancer, a disease which kills four people in the UK every hour.

Specialist nurses hope the shocking statistic will make people more aware of unexplained symptoms which need to be checked promptly by a GP.

Jolly Barber, one of the hospital’s three lung cancer clinical nurse specialists, said: “Early diagnosis improves the outcome, so raising awareness of lung cancer symptoms can get more help to more people more quickly. Lung cancer can affect anyone, and there has been a big increase in the number of women affected.”

To get the message across, nurses have organised a lung cancer exhibition in the hospital boardroom on Thursday.

There will be a talk at noon by consultant chest physician Dr Duncan Powrie, the hospital’s lung cancer lead doctor. Anyone is welcome to attend.

Symptoms which should be checked out without delay are: A cough which does not go away after two or three weeks Worsening of a long-standing cough Persistent chest infections Coughing blood Unexplained persistent breathlessness Unexplained persistent tiredness or lack of energy Unexplained persistent weight loss Persistent chest and/or shoulder pain Mrs Barber added: “These symptoms may not be serious, in which case there is nothing to lose by getting them checked. If they are serious, there is everything to gain. Early diagnosis could save your life.”