Every year 3,300 people in the West Midlands are diagnosed with lung cancer.

Spotting early signs of the disease is critical as only 7% of people diagnosed with lung cancer are still alive 5 years after diagnosis. While the rates for the disease are slightly different in men and women, there is no significant difference in terms of survival.

In an attempt to improve early detection and survival rates, a major publicity campaign, Be Clear On Cancer, is being rolled out nationally from 8 May to 30 June. Coordinated by the Department of Health, it will feature adverts fronted by GPs who will be encouraging patients to visit their surgeries to discuss the symptoms.

Dr Arvind Rajasekaran, a consultant respiratory physician at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, and chair of the Pan Birmingham Cancer Network lung site specific group said:

“The intention of this campaign is to increase the awareness of the main symptoms of lung cancer. Patients and members of the public supporting this initiative will enable treatment to be more effective for the local community and population as a whole”.

If England’s survival rates for lung cancer matched the best in Europe, an additional 1300 lives could be saved each year.

If you’re concerned about lung cancer visit the NHS Choices lung cancer website.

Healthcare professionals including GPs, practice teams and pharmacy teams can find more information on the campaign and more information about early diagnosis of lung cancer on the Cancer Research UK website.