New lung cancer campaign

A nationwide Government campaign to raise awareness that a cough for three weeks or more could be a sign of lung cancer takes to the road in Yorkshire and the Humber this week. The ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ coughing roadshow will tour shopping centres over the next three and a half weeks.

The roadshow will call at 9 locations in Yorkshire and Humber; they are:

·         23^rd and 24^th May – Leeds, St Johns Centre Shopping Centre

·         25^th and 26^th May – Barnsley, Alhambra Shopping Centre

·         28^th and 29^th May – Kingston Upon Hull, The Prospect Shopping Centre

·         30^th and 31^th May – Bridlington, Bridlington Shopping Centre

·         4^th and 5^th June ­– Wakefield, The Ridings Shopping Centre

·         6^th and 7^th June – Sheffield, Crystal Peaks Shopping Centre

·         8^th and 9^th June – Leeds, White Rose Shopping Centre

·         13^th and 14^th June – Grimsby, Freshney Place Shopping Centre

·         15^th and 16^th June – Hillsborough, Hillsborough Shopping Centre

Lung cancer affects 33,000 people each year with 4,131¹ cases in Yorkshire and the Humber with the majority of cases occurring in people over the age of 55. In Yorkshire and the Humber there are around 3,370 deaths a year but more lives can be saved if lung cancer is spotted and diagnosed early.

When lung cancer is diagnosed at its earliest stage, as many as 80 per cent of people are alive five years after diagnosis compared with only seven per cent diagnosed at a late stage.

At each of the ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ shopping centre stands, a nurse will be on hand to talk in more depth with anyone who’s worried about a cough and give advice on visiting their GP.

The national campaign received widespread support from prominent sporting, TV, political and media personalities, many of whom have been touched by the disease in some way. Several high profile individuals including Ricky Gervais, Alex Ferguson, Duncan Bannatyne, Lynda Bellingham and Linda Robson have lent their support by participating in a photography exhibition holding x-ray images of healthy lungs.

 Linda Robson who sadly lost her father to lung cancer said:

“I used to tease my dad about his constant cough, never for one minute realising that it could be cancer. I know all too well how horrible lung cancer can be, having lost also my grandmother and uncle to the disease.  I would advise anyone than has a persistent cough to never ignore it and to get themselves checked out at the doctors”.