"Nobody wants to find out they have any sort of health problem, especially cancer. However, if you catch cancer earlier, it’s much more likely to be treatable.''

Lung cancer patient Duncan Edmonstone is urging people living in Greater Manchester to take up a brand new and free online check.

NHS doctors are asking members of the public across Greater Manchester who are worried about their lung symptoms to go online and use a new help tool, LungAware.

Duncan Edmonstone, 54, a lung cancer patient, said: “Nobody wants to find out they have any sort of health problem, especially cancer. However, if you catch cancer earlier, it’s much more likely to be treatable. I’d urge anyone who’s worried about symptoms to give it a go – it’s really easy to use, and can help you explain what’s going on to your doctor.”

When using the new tool - which can be found at www.lungaware.co.uk - people will be asked a few simple questions, including their age group, whether or not they’ve ever been a smoker, and which area of Greater Manchester they live in.

The free tool, which does not collect or store any personal data, will also ask which, if any of the following symptoms they are experiencing:

• Cough

• Shortness of breath

• Chest pain

• Fatigue

• Weight loss

• Appetite loss

• Coughing up blood

Once the questions are answered, the tool will give advice on what best to do next. This could mean seeking urgent help, booking an appointment at the GP, or simply keeping an eye on the symptoms for a while. The results can then be saved or printed out.

The tool has been designed by lung cancer clinicians in Greater Manchester to provide good quality, evidence-based advice in line with NICE guidance, to people who may be concerned about their symptoms, but are unsure whether they should see seek medical advice.

Lung cancer is one of the most common and serious types of cancer. More than 43,000 people are