In a survey of 1500 people, participants were asked to list the potential warning signs of lung cancer, the most common cause of cancer death. Poor survey results left the study authors astonished.
Results included the following statistics:
- Only 5% of those surveyed mentioned a cough that doesn’t go away
- Two people mentioned a painful cough
- Less than 10% of survey participants cited a persistent chest infection, tiredness, or inexplicable weight loss
- Less than 15% noted persistent chest pain
- Many (almost 80%) failed to mention coughing up blood
- Shortness of breath was not mentioned by 63% of responders
Pertaining to risk factors for lung cancer, less than 13% of participants cited exposure to cigarette smoke; however, almost 85% acknowledged “being a smoker” as a risk factor. And yet, smokers presented no greater awareness of symptoms compared with nonsmokers.
According to the study, socioeconomic status impacted awareness. Participants from poorer backgrounds had reduced levels of symptom and risk factor awareness.
“It’s very worrying to see from our survey results that when asked to think of lung cancer symptoms many common ones simply don’t come to mind for most people. A diagnosis of lung cancer is devastating, but if the disease is caught in its earliest stages treatment can improve survival.
“We can help improve diagnosis by raising awareness of the signs people should look out for and when to get them checked by a doctor,” said Sara Hiom, Cancer Research UK’s director of information and an author of the study published in the journal Thorax.
Source: Cancer Research UK.