Featured In: The Coalville Times, Friday, 26th November, 2021

HEALTH MATTERS WITH DR HANNA ROBBINS

Facts:

LUNG cancer is the most common cause of death from cancer in the UK. The sooner it is spotted, the easier it is to treat, so being aware of the warning signs and speaking to your doctor makes a difference.

It doesn’t matter whether you have one symptom or five – if you spot any of these symptoms, and they are unusual for you, contact your GP Surgery. Usually it isn’t lung cancer, but it is always better to get things checked out.

A cough for three weeks or more, or a cough that has changed or got worse and you have had a negative Covid test. It doesn’t matter whether the cough is wet, dry, chesty or tickly – it needs to be checked out.

Breathlessness is often due to being out of shape, anxiety, stress, or heart or lung conditions like asthma or COPD. But if you are breathless and this is unusual for you, then contact your GP Surgery.

If you are more tired than usual for no reason. Chances are that it won’t be caused by lung cancer, but it is chance to talk about other causes of tiredness, like stress, sleep issues, alcohol and exercise, and your medications.

Our weight can change from time to time and this can be normal. But unintentional weight loss, outside your usual pattern, is something we should talk about.

• Regular chest infections
• Coughing up blood
• Hoarse voice that is new and not going away
• Wheezing which is new for you

Any of the above if you also have back pain, shoulder pain, or you have ever smoked or worked with dust or coal.

Your GP Team will assess you and chat about whether to arrange an X-ray or some blood tests as a first step.