The very words “lung cancer” can strike fear into the most gutsy of individuals. Unfortunately, the figures do add up as lung cancer is the most common cancer affecting Scots.
About 5,000 people in Scotland are diagnosed with lung cancer each year, with about 4,000 dying from it. The reason mortality rates are so high can be down to the fact that the majority of lung cancers are detected when the disease is in its latest stages, when there are less effective treatments and surgery options available. In the Grampian area alone, there were 1,914 cases of lung cancer in the five-year period 2005-2009, a trend which hasn’t changed significantly.
But things are changing because now people do survive lung cancer. And the earlier it’s found, the more can be done.
Just ask Sir Alex Ferguson.
The football legend has helped kick off a new campaign that aims to build belief that lung cancer can be treated if detected in its earliest stages. His face is currently on our television screens, telling us that lung cancer “doesn’t have to be a death sentence. And finding it early could save your life”.
He said: “I wanted to be involved in this campaign as I lost both my parents to lung cancer. I know the devastating impact cancer can have on families.
“But cancer’s not what it used to be and there are now treatments that can save or extend your life. So rather than doing nothing about it, I urge anyone who is worried to get checked as early as they can.”
The bold new campaign is part of the Scottish Government’s Detect Cancer Early programme, which aims to increase the number of Scots detected in the first stage of breast, bowel and lung cancer by 25%, by 2015. Sir Alex references the death of his parents to lung cancer in the 1980s in the TV advert but remains upbeat by telling us that the early detection of lung cancer can give you “extra time” to spend with your family.
Kathleen Adams knows just how precious time with her family is and she spends most of her days with her husband, children and grandchildren. Kathleen is someone who was treated early for lung cancer by being put on a new clinical drug trial that has meant she’s still here five years after first being diagnosed.
Diagnosed with lung cancer in 2008, Kathleen, 66, from Aberdeen, was devastated when she heard the news. She’d had a scare a few months earlier after experiencing severe chest pains during the night. As a picture of health, regularly going to the gym, gardening and having an active social life, Kathleen wasn’t too worried by the early warning signs and a quick trip to A&E allayed any fears. But the hospital doctor wasn’t convinced and asked her to come back a few months later for a check-up.
“I was absolutely shattered after getting that X-ray. I was gobsmacked that the cancer was as bad as it was. I’ve never smoked and I’ve always lived a healthy, active life. I didn’t have any symptoms, so it was difficult to comprehend at first.”
An X-ray at the hospital revealed a large shadow on her lung and a further CT scan and bronchoscopy prompted drastic action. Kathleen’s tumour was not operable and she underwent intense chemotherapy and radiotherapy which successfully reduced the tumour for several months. But in February 2009, Kathleen developed fluid in her lung and cancer cells were found to have spread there. Kathleen wasn’t sure what was going to happen to her and she imagined the worst.
Dr Marianne Nicolson, Kathleen’s consultant medical oncologist, invited Kathleen to participate in a clinical trial to compare standard chemotherapy alone with chemotherapy offered with a new targeted drug given in tablet form. Kathleen bravely agreed to participate in the study and it has worked very well for her.
Kathleen is still taking the targeted therapy tablet and she is living a fit, healthy and normal life now five years after her diagnosis of inoperable lung cancer.
“I’m still here over five years later after being diagnosed with lung cancer, when nobody thought I would be. I’m an example of how you can get treatment for lung cancer if you catch it early. The clinical trial drugs have given me a good quality of life and they’ve allowed me to keep living. I still swim every week and work in the garden, although, I probably don’t have the energy that I used to.
“I was very ill during the chemo but my son had cancer as a child and he’s now 35 so thinking of him gave me strength to fight for my life. As did the birth of my two granddaughters after I was diagnosed. They’re the loves of my life and bring me such joy. I enjoy life and I love being alive. After being diagnosed with lung cancer you have to have something to hang on to. And I’ve got my wonderful husband and family and a life that I love. So I’m going to be sticking around as long as I can!”
Kathleen’s a true inspiration with real fighting spirit. But she did something about her warning signs, when many others don’t. Smokers or former smokers may be too worried about what their GP will say to them, or perhaps don’t want to hear any bad news.
Lung cancer unfortunately doesn’t always produce signs and symptoms. But if you have a persistent cough or notice a change in your cough, or if you’re worried about your breathing or chest, always go to your GP. It may be nothing or it could be something, but you’ll never know unless you do something about it. Your GP wants to see you, regardless of your health history.
Find out more at www.getcheckedearly.org or call NHS Inform on 0800 22 44 88.
Below is a list of symptoms you should see your doctor about but having one or more of these symptoms doesn’t mean you’ve got lung cancer. If you’ve had them for more than three weeks you shouldn’t ignore them and make an appointment to see your GP at the earliest opportunity.
A cough that doesn’t go away
A cough you’ve had for a long time that gets worse or changes
Feeling breathless for no reason
A chest infection that doesn’t clear up
Coughing blood
Unexplained weight loss
Chest or shoulder pains
Unexplained tiredness or lack of energy
A hoarse voice