World Lung Cancer Day is observed on Thursday, August 1, making it a good time to recognize the early signs of a disease that kills half of all people diagnosed with it.

Kim Jackson, medical negligence lawyer from Patient Claim Line, said Brits can spot signs of lung cancer. Kim also spoke about what to do if your doctor has missed your symptoms.

What are the warning symptoms of lung cancer?

Kim said: “Warning signs include a persistent cough that may get worse, coughing up blood, and chest pain that gets worse with deep breathing, coughing, or laughing. Loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue are also important signs of lung cancer. Watch for hoarseness, shortness of breath, new onset wheezing, and persistent infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia.”

What should a doctor or healthcare professional do if they recognize symptoms of lung cancer?

Kim said: “If you visit your GP with symptoms suggestive of lung cancer, they should examine you and ask you to breathe into a device called a spirometer, which measures how much air you breathe in and out. A blood test may be requested to rule out some of the possible causes of your symptoms. The most important test to diagnose lung cancer is a chest X-ray. A CT scan as well as a PET-CT scan are also recommended.”

What happens if lung cancer is not treated quickly?

Kim said: “More than half of people diagnosed with lung cancer die within a year of diagnosis, even with treatment. Of course, the earlier lung cancer is detected, the better the chances of survival. However, it all depends on the stage of the lung cancer and the general health of the person.”

What legal rights do I have if I am diagnosed with lung cancer late?

Kim said: “A person has three years from the time they became aware of the cancer to bring a claim in court. To prove negligence, a person must prove that their duty of care was breached and that as a result there is a causal link, meaning a person suffered harm as a direct result of the negligence. It can be difficult to succeed with a negligence claim in cancer cases, particularly when the causal link must be proven. It may be that despite the delay in diagnosing the cancer, the outcome would not have been any different in any case.”