High awareness of lung cancer among Irish people
A new report produced by the Global Lung Cancer Coalition (GLCC) has investigated the awareness of the symptoms of lung cancer in 21 countries worldwide. The research, which was carried out by Ipsos MORI (on behalf of the GLCC), has found that more than one in five people are unable to name any symptom of lung cancer.
Researchers found that across all the countries, 22 per cent of people surveyed admitted they could not name any symptoms of the disease. However, the GLCC report found that the lack of awareness of lung cancer symptoms varied between different countries.
The Irish public showed that they are on high alert for lung cancer with only 9 per cent of Irish respondents unable to name one symptom of the disease. This was the second highest proportion of respondents surveyed able to name at least one symptom across all the 21 countries.
Irish people were also more likely to say that breathlessness and unspecified or general coughing are symptoms of lung cancer than the other countries surveyed (both 56%). Overall, breathlessness was the most commonly identified symptom (41 per cent of respondents mentioned it spontaneously on average across the countries) but a similar proportion identified a cough or coughing (39% on average).
Lung cancer is Ireland’s fourth most common cancer with 2,213 people diagnosed in 2012 alone. With early detection, there is a real chance of effective treatment and potential cure. Patients who present to their doctor early have more treatment options and better outcomes than those who visit their GP with late-stage lung cancer.
Know the signs and symptoms of lung cancer
- A cough that doesn’t go away or a change in a long-term cough
- Feeling short of breath or wheezing
- Repeated chest infections that won’t go away even after antibiotics
- Coughing up blood-stained phlegm (sputum)
- Pain in your chest, especially when you cough or breathe in
- Feeling more tired than usual and/or explained weight loss
- Hoarse voice, problems swallowing or swelling in the face or neck
GLCC Report
Click here to download the Global Lung Cancer Coalition Survey Final report (pdf, 617 KB)
Information about lung cancer
For lung cancer information for patients and their loved ones, click here
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