ACOUGH that lasts for three weeks or longer is the focus of a new campaign – backed by Ricky Gervais and Lynda Bellingham – to increase awareness of the key symptoms of lung cancer and improve earlier diagnosis.

New data has revealed only one in 101 people know that a persistent cough lasting for three weeks or more could be a symptom of lung cancer and that dealing with it early could save their life.

Despite the disease killing more people than any other form of cancer, this symptom fares worse in public awareness than other cancer signs. In fact:

• 69 per cent of people are aware of the need to look for a lump that could signal breast or testicular cancer;
• 31 per cent know that bleeding could be a sign of bowel, kidney or bladder cancer;
• 25 per cent know that a change in the appearance of a mole should prompt a check-up for skin cancer.

Lung cancer affects 33,000 people in England each year, with the majority of cases in people over the age of 55.

When diagnosed at its earliest stage, as many as 80 per cent of people are alive five years later, compared with only seven per cent diagnosed at a late stage.

Nick Springham, consultant in public health, NHS County Durham and Darlington, said: “It’s important that the public becomes more aware of the symptoms and, if someone has the key symptoms, they visit their GP straight away. Earlier diagnosis of lung cancer could save many more lives in County Durham and Darlington.

“If you’ve had a cough for three weeks or more, make an appointment to see your doctor today. It may be nothing serious, but it is better to have it checked out as soon as possible to be sure.”

The new campaign launched by Health Minister Paul Burstow is receiving widespread support from prominent sporting, TV, political and media personalities, many of whom have been touched by the disease in some way. These include Ricky Gervais, Alex Ferguson, Duncan Bannatyne, Lynda Bellingham and Linda Robson, who have lent their support by participating in a photography exhibition in which they’re holding X-ray images of healthy lungs.

Actor and comedian, Ricky Gervais, whose mother died of lung cancer at the age of 74, said: “It’s devastating when you see someone you love dying from lung cancer. It’s a horrible, horrible disease.

“My mother’s death was very sudden and you can’t help wondering if things would have been different had it been spotted earlier.

“If you’ve had a bad cough for three weeks and you can’t get rid of it, make an appointment with your GP today.”

While the main symptom of lung cancer is a persistent cough that lasts for three weeks or more, there are a number of other symptoms:


• A cough that has got worse or changed;
• Repeated chest infections;
• Coughing up blood;
• Breathlessness;
• Feeling more tired than usual over a period of time;
• Losing weight for no obvious reason;
• An ache or pain in your chest or shoulder that has lasted some time.