SOUTHEND Hospital is behind a new month-long campaign to help people spot the early signs of lung cancer to save more lives.

The hospital diagnosed 248 new cases of lung cancer during 2007, and more than 37,000 new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed nationally each year.

Staff have launched their own initiative as part of Lung Cancer Awareness Month to highlight the importance of early diagnosis.

In two-thirds of cases, the disease is often only diagnosed when it has reached an advanced stage, meaning patients have a greatly reduced chance of survival, with 80 per cent dying within a year of diagnosis.

Specialist lung cancer nurse, Jolly Barber, said: “Lung cancer is often detected too late. People are 40 times more likely to survive if it is detected early on. Early diagnosis saves lives.”

Leigh resident 71-year-old Francis Hemmings was only diagnosed after a 50mph car crash brought on chest and arm pains.

After tests proved inconclusive, the retired BT engineer was sent for a CT scan, which revealed a growth on his right lung, which doctors told him was too close to his heart to risk an operation.

Consultant oncologist Dr Pauline Leonard started Mr Hemmings on steroids before he began a course of radiotherapy to tackle the tumour.

Mr Hemmings said: “Dr Leonard told me the car accident was fortunate as otherwise I might never have had the CT scan.”

Lung cancer patient Patricia Crockett, 70, from Canvey, had one of her lungs removed at Southend Hospital after discovering her lung cancer by chance.

Ms Crockett said: “It was a very aggressive tumour and, had I not had my lung removed, I had only about 12 weeks to live.

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SIGNS TO LOOK OUT FOR Lung cancer symptoms include: Coughing up blood Being very out of breath Chest pains Weight loss Feeling more tired than usual.

Visit www.roycastle.org or www.macmillan.org.uk