November is Lung Cancer Awareness month. The aim of the campaign is to encourage people displaying the common symptoms of lung cancer to visit their GP.
The symptoms of lung cancer can include:
- Having a cough for more than 3 weeks
- A change in a cough you have had for a long time
- Having a chest infection, that doesn’t go away with treatment
- Being short of breath for no reason
- Coughing up phlegm with signs of blood in it
- An ache or a pain when breathing or coughing
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling tired
- Unexpected weight loss
If you have any of the above symptoms for more than 3 weeks, make an appointment with your GP today. There are many reasons why you might have some of these symptoms. It may be nothing serious, but it is worth getting yourself checked out.
Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of Lung Cancer (Cancer Research UK). The Belfast Trust has a Stop Smoking Service for staff and patients, which offers support and free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) for up to 12 weeks to help you stop smoking.
- For staff referrals contact Fiona McCabe on 07701279263 or click here for more information.
- For patient referrals contact Paul O’Kane on 07824619359 or Kate Carey on 07385954094.
- For more information on how to refer a patient via encompass click here.
- For more information on Lung Cancer, the following websites may be useful:
- www.cancerresearchuk.org
- www.roycastle.org