Letter from supporters/nurses to local media
Dear Editor
Early detection saves lives
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. As
a nurse who comes into daily contact with people who have lung cancer,
someone who has cared for a lung cancer patient
someone who has known/knows a lung cancer patient
someone who has lung cancer
I thought your readers/listeners might be interested in a few facts about the disease.
The two aims of Lung Cancer Awareness Month are to inform and educate the public, particularly those at risk, about the importance of early detection and diagnosis; and to raise awareness among health professionals, particularly GPs and pharmacists about the possible diagnosis of lung cancer when considering symptoms.
Using the message “Early Detection Saves Lives” the campaign urges you to see your doctor straight away if you have any of the following symptoms:
A cough that doesn’t go away after two to 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
These symptoms may not be serious, in which case, you’ve got nothing to lose by getting them checked out. If they are serious, you’ve got everything to gain - diagnosis at an early stage could save your life.
Visit your GP now or call the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Helpline free on 0800 358 7200; or Macmillan CancerLine on 0808 808 2020
It is also important to recognise that non-smokers can get lung cancer too - one in eight people with lung cancer have never smoked.
Whilst smoking is still the major cause of lung cancer, the good news is that quitting works. It’s never too late to give up, and the sooner you stop the better. Even if you have been smoking for most of your life, your chances of developing lung cancer will be much less if you give up now, whatever your age.
Each year the campaign is jointly organised in the UK by The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and Macmillan Cancer Support who lead a consortium of other charities with the department of health. For the first time, the initiative has the support of the National Pharmacy Association with 13,500 member pharmacies around the UK, The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and Lloydspharmacy to promote the campaign. This is particularly important because many people go to their local pharmacist with some of the early signs and symptoms of lung cancer.
Yours faithfully
Letter from supporters/nurses to local media
Dear Editor
Early detection saves lives
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. As
a nurse who comes into daily contact with people who have lung cancer,
someone who has cared for a lung cancer patient
someone who has known/knows a lung cancer patient
someone who has lung cancer
I thought your readers/listeners might be interested in a few facts about the disease.
The two aims of Lung Cancer Awareness Month are to inform and educate the public, particularly those at risk, about the importance of early detection and diagnosis; and to raise awareness among health professionals, particularly GPs and pharmacists about the possible diagnosis of lung cancer when considering symptoms.
Using the message “Early Detection Saves Lives” the campaign urges you to see your doctor straight away if you have any of the following symptoms:
A cough that doesn’t go away after two to 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
These symptoms may not be serious, in which case, you’ve got nothing to lose by getting them checked out. If they are serious, you’ve got everything to gain - diagnosis at an early stage could save your life.
Visit your GP now or call the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Helpline free on 0800 358 7200; or Macmillan CancerLine on 0808 808 2020
It is also important to recognise that non-smokers can get lung cancer too - one in eight people with lung cancer have never smoked.
Whilst smoking is still the major cause of lung cancer, the good news is that quitting works. It’s never too late to give up, and the sooner you stop the better. Even if you have been smoking for most of your life, your chances of developing lung cancer will be much less if you give up now, whatever your age.
Each year the campaign is jointly organised in the UK by The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and Macmillan Cancer Support who lead a consortium of other charities with the department of health. For the first time, the initiative has the support of the National Pharmacy Association with 13,500 member pharmacies around the UK, The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and Lloydspharmacy to promote the campaign. This is particularly important because many people go to their local pharmacist with some of the early signs and symptoms of lung cancer.
Yours faithfully