Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance has teamed up with newly crowned Super League champions Hull KR, as well as Hull City, Hull FC, York City, Scunthorpe United, and Scarborough Athletic, to encourage people to visit their GP if they are displaying lung cancer symptoms.
Much-loved mascots from these teams have worked with the Cancer Alliance to create a series of fun videos with a serious message to be shown on the clubs’ social media channels during November – which is Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
Lung cancer is one of the most common and serious types of cancer. More than 43,000 people are diagnosed with the condition every year in the UK. There are usually no signs or symptoms in the early stages of lung cancer, but many people with the condition eventually develop symptoms including:
- a cough that does not go away after three weeks
- an existing cough that changes or gets worse
- chest infections that keep coming back
- coughing up blood
- being short of breath a lot
- unexplained tiredness
- an ache or pain when breathing or coughing
- loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss
The majority of lung cancer diagnosis cases happen between the ages of 70 and 74, but cases rise rapidly from 55 onwards. Eight in 10 (79%) lung cancer cases are preventable.
Early detection of lung cancer is key. People diagnosed with the disease in its earliest stages are nearly 20 times more likely to survive for five years than those whose cancer is caught late. Unfortunately, seven in 10 cancer patients are being diagnosed too late – often because there are no signs or symptoms during the early stages of the disease.
Dr Stuart Baugh, Clinical Programme Director for the NHS Lung Cancer Screening programme in Humber and North Yorkshire, said: “The Cancer Alliance’s videos for Lung Cancer Awareness Month are a great way to make 55 to 74 year-olds think about lung cancer, and whether they’re displaying any of the symptoms their team mascot is reminding people about on social media.
“Not only that it will make their families vigilant, too. If someone’s child or grandchild loves their team mascot and sees they’ve been coughing for three weeks or more, it might remind them that their dad or grandma has been doing the same. Sometimes, people respond better when loved ones urge them to see their GP.”
Dr Tami Byass, a GP at Eastgate Medical Group in Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, is urging people to be aware of the common lung cancer symptoms.
She said: “Please take note of notable lung cancer symptoms. These are a cough for three weeks or more; fatigue; shortness of breath; chest pain; weight loss; and appetite loss. Contact your GP right away if you are experiencing any of these symptoms.”
People in Humber and North Yorkshire aged between 55 and 74, who smoke or used to smoke, and are registered with a local GP, could be eligible for free Lung Cancer Screening.
Lung Cancer screening, which is being rolled out in phases across Humber and North Yorkshire, can reassure you that your lungs are healthy, or help find problems early when treatment could be simpler and more successful. Click here to discover if screening is available in your area.
Tracey Morris, a cancer patient in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, is also keen to encourage people to see their GP if they’re displaying symptoms of the lung cancer.
She said: “Last Christmas, I thought I just had a bad cold. I was coughing a lot, and I had chest pain. My friends told me I should see my GP, but I thought I should just soldier on. When I ended up so ill that I had to go to hospital I found out it wasn’t a cold. I had stage two lung cancer.
“If you’ve been coughing for three weeks or more, please don’t assume it’s a cold, flu or Covid. Go see your GP. It can make a difference, and it could save your life.”
Cancer Alliance volunteers will be involved in awareness activity sessions across Humber and North Yorkshire throughout November, armed with our giant inflatable lung for company. Visit the Cancer Alliance’s Lung Cancer Awareness Month page to find out more about this and other activity planned throughout the month.