New lung cancer awareness campaign - Lung Conditions C...

Lung Conditions Community Forum

55,051 members65,842 posts

New lung cancer awareness campaign

BLFCommsTeam profile image
26 Replies

Public Health England (PHE) has launched a lung cancer campaign to increase public awareness of the importance of early lung cancer diagnosis. People with persistent coughs - of more than three weeks - are being encouraged to visit their GP as this could be a sign and symptom of lung cancer. Below are two adverts which will go out as part of the campaign:

youtube.com/watch?v=lA9WqUN...

youtube.com/watch?feature=p...

What do you think of the campaign?

Written by
BLFCommsTeam profile image
BLFCommsTeam
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
26 Replies

Are there plans to have a similar scheme to this in Scotland, Wales and Ireland? Thanks ;)

Sandra x x

BLFCommsTeam profile image
BLFCommsTeam in reply to

Not at this current time, but if we hear of anything we will post it on here!

RichardAT profile image
RichardAT

They've done these campaigns about persistent coughs and cancer, why not change it and raise awareness of COPD instead? Everything they do to raise public awareness seems to be cancer related and COPD gets ignored.

BLFCommsTeam profile image
BLFCommsTeam in reply to RichardAT

It's a good point Richard. This is part of the Be Clear on Cancer campaign hence why it is cancer focussed.

Although it doesn't raise awareness of COPD directly it goes far in encouraging people who are feeling breathless, wheezy or have a cough to be more conscious of their respiratory health. Individuals who go to their doctor with these symptoms may not have lung cancer, but may be diagnosed with another respiratory condition, such as COPD.

We applaud the government for working hard to raise awareness of cancers, including lung cancer, and of course we would be thrilled if they chose to raise awareness of COPD too, something we try to do everyday!

ann1webb profile image
ann1webb in reply to RichardAT

You beat me to that 1 Richard :)

Ann x

music profile image
music in reply to RichardAT

very true richard

in reply to RichardAT

hi Richard u ok,went breathe easy wens,was 2 speakers there from royal Oldham,naseem gill and George wong,give a good talk,and yes id never heard of copd and never any leaflets in surgery on it,leaflets on cancer 1 or the other no copd,gps some are the same fob u of with amoxillan for chest ,never ask or mention copd ever,i am in mind thinking the work for the treasury /as don't mention copd keep the money coming in ,

scrobbitty profile image
scrobbitty

If I'm being totally honest and absolutely no disrespect to anyone who has suffered or is suffering from lung cancer, I feel that cancer has enough exposure publicly and very little exposure is given to other lung diseases. When you cannot breathe or have a problem with the chest, I think the first thought that crosses most people's minds is cancer.

phillips1 profile image
phillips1

Anything that could save someone's life is to be welcomed. Good luck to the campaign I say.

Bobby

Mmm does that include smokers? 2 of my sisters have never smoked (or suffered from passive smoking) and both suffered for months with persistent coughs. They each individully went to their (different) gp's. The result? Both of them were totally ignored and weren't asked any questions. Their doctors didn't want to know. So I hope the Govt. has told the doctors the above! Neither of them will go back to ask now...

Bev x

Same for my friend, she went to her doctors 3 times with a cough, doctors kept giving her antibiotics. She demanded a chest xray, she has a large tumour on each lung, has had 3 lots of chemo, no more they can do now. I researched lung cancer last week and it says only 8% of people with lung cancer survive, not very good odds

scrobbitty profile image
scrobbitty in reply to

Oh that is awful. Really sorry to hear it xx

in reply to

slade , may i just ask where those figures were? I'm really sorry for your friend, I also have a family friend, he is 47, he had 3 cancerous moles removed last year, then a cancerous lymph gland, and now has just heard that he has cancer on hip, spine and both lungs. They are treating with tablets. Do you think they are safe to believe figures? sorry just a bit upset by them and teary.

anna

in reply to

yea me too, have been friends with my friend since we were 5, we are now 60.

She asked me to look into her paying for more chemo, which is what I was doing, I googled that question, I can't remember the name of the site which said that, but most of them gave % of survival at each stage, and how long approx she has left now they have stopped teatmemt. She was told when she was diagnosed 18 months ago that it was terminal, we all thought it would be 3 to 5 years, glad I didn't google it till now. The trouble with GP's is that they tend not to take things seriously, just give you a prescription. I'm not saying she would live if her GP had taken more notice at the begining but we will never know now. So along with doing these ads they also need to educate the GP's.

Hope your friend is going to be okay, take care.

Peta

in reply to

agree slade,gp need re educating,i had ex gp just ignored my xray ,as ok.,all he did each time was a script for rubbish amoxillan,no mention of copd ever ,just bone lazy

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails

We should all do what we can to promote COPD.

KOTC

Puffthemagicdragon profile image
Puffthemagicdragon

As COPD is one of the worlds biggest killers I am very surprised and peeved that there is virtually no awareness made of the illness. I had never heard of it until I was diagnosed with it.

If I had heard of it would I have given up smoking earlier ? To be honest, having a morning cough up of gunk each day, I would have given it some very serious consideration.

music profile image
music in reply to Puffthemagicdragon

yes your right puff..and even now there is not even a poster or information on the wall or information board in my gp waiting room

in reply to Puffthemagicdragon

bloudy agree there puff.i was going to my ex gp.with chest every time got abs,never asked do u smoke work in areas with dust etc or mentioned copd ever,id never heard of it,pplty of ads cancer lung breast etc but no copd.waste time think there working for the governments past and present.keep quiet for the treasury ,as musin says my surgery no leaflets nothing on copd,wat ive been doing wen I go is/I pik leaflets up for cancer and on the front I write have u heard od COPD and smoking or passive smoking and were u work u mite have COPD ur gp gets paid so make them work for there mony and ask for a spimetry test an ur gp will say oh u only have a 5minute slot make a new appointment ,say no do it now u or I want see nurse asap.myex gp was unable to read xray much to my cost now, there a joke some of them

warwickstag profile image
warwickstag

Does that mean I should make an appointment?. I've had a persistent cough for at least 10 years so presumably no chance for me. These campaigns can promote panic. Rather see the money spent of PR or finding a cure.

undine profile image
undine

the trouble with campaigns like this is they can give a false sense of security - I do not have a cough, persistent or not, but I have got chronic stage 3 emphysema as before I was hospitalized with extremely low and dangerous oxygen levels I thought I was ok as far as my lungs were concerned - no cough, and nothing had ever showed on an X ray, and as I did not think I had caught bronchitis again thought the SOB just about normal for me. Had I had the information I have now things could have been very different - so agree cancer gets too much prominence at the expense of other lung diseases and for reasons above can make people think falsely that if they do not have cancer symptoms then they must be ok.

BLFCommsTeam profile image
BLFCommsTeam

Thank you for all your interesting comments everyone, it's always good to hear what the people who know the most about lung conditions think!

scorpiolass profile image
scorpiolass

Interesting comments regarding lung cancer, I have asthma, severe copd & I am possibly developing Bronchiectasis. I have a chronic cough & it was only because of the Bronchiectasis concern that my GP referred me to hospital.

Late last year a chest Consultant, to whom I owe a debt of gratitude, spotted a CXR abnormality; which turned out to be a stage 1 lung cancer. I had a successful lung lobectomy in January of this year. I am lucky to be alive, as most people who are diagnosed with lung cancer die within a year. Mainly because it's usually symptomless until it's too late. So please don't think that copd & lung cancer are in completion for resources, my cancer currently is cured but I still have my copd chest problems.

scorpiolass profile image
scorpiolass

Interesting comments regarding lung cancer, I have asthma, severe copd & I am possibly developing Bronchiectasis. I have a chronic cough & it was only because of the Bronchiectasis concern that my GP referred me to hospital.

Late last year a chest Consultant, to whom I owe a debt of gratitude, spotted a CXR abnormality; which turned out to be a stage 1 lung cancer. I had a successful lung lobectomy in January of this year. I am lucky to be alive, as most people who are diagnosed with lung cancer die within a year. Mainly because it's usually symptomless until it's too late. So please don't think that copd & lung cancer are in completion for resources, my cancer currently is cured but I still have my copd chest problems.

scorpiolass profile image
scorpiolass

I suppose what I am trying to say is that copd does not preclude lung cancer, in fact it can make you more vulnerable to it. What we should be doing is, insisting on a CXR at regular intervals or if the cough changes.

scrobbitty profile image
scrobbitty in reply to scorpiolass

I'm delighted that your outcome was great and to be honest until you posted, had never heard of a CXR - but now I'm aware and thanks for telling us. I can see your point of view.

You may also like...

Lung Cancer Treatment

Have been diagnosed with lung cancer again (but now on the right), 6 years later, but this time they

Lung Cancer Treatment

I have just been diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer. To be precise I have T3 N2 MO, I have been...

has anyone here undergone Lung Surgery for cancer?

for lung cancer, in this instance, surgery. my mum has been diagnosed with stage 3a lung cancer and

I'm really tired with all these ideas about lung cancer

me that the doctors might be wrong, I have lung cancer not pneumonia, when I try to remove...

Helping to Raise COPD Awareness.

trying to keep Raising COPD Awareness for people that have ongoing lung conditions and complications