In a new study, researchers found that shortness of breath and cough may be potential predictors of lung cancer.
They found these conditions were becoming more common as the first symptom in diagnosis.
The research was led by the University of Exeter Medical School.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the UK and has a poor five-year survival rate of around 13 percent.
The study aimed to improve potentially life-saving early diagnosis through analyzing which symptoms patients present first to their doctor.
The team examined 27,795 records of adults who were diagnosed with lung cancer between 2000 and 2017, at more than 600 UK GP practices.
Over the 17 year period, the team found an increase in both cough and shortness of breath as the first symptom patients reported when they went on to be diagnosed with lung cancer.
They found a decrease in patients who reported the first symptom to be coughing up blood, or loss of appetite, generally regarded as the headline symptom of lung cancer.
The team says the study indicates that people are now going to the doctor about different symptoms of lung cancer, such as cough and shortness of breath, possibly because of awareness campaigns in the past.
Most people with these symptoms will not have lung cancer, but it’s well worth letting doctors decide if you need tests—because if it is cancer, prompt diagnosis and speedy treatment make all the difference.
And although smoking makes it much more likely, remember that non-smokers can have lung cancer too.
The lead author of the study is Professor Willie Hamilton from the University of Exeter Medical School.
The study is published in the British Journal of General Practice.
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