The country's deadliest cancer causing 26k fatalities just last year - here are the symptoms you need to know

People with symptoms including a long-standing persistent cough are being encouraged visit their GP for potentially lifesaving checks for the country's deadliest cancer. Catching lung cancer earlier makes it easier to treat, says the NHS as it launches a new campaign to ensure people make an appointment.

Figures suggest that people at risk of lung cancer may not be coming forward for care despite it being the biggest cause of cancer deaths in England, according to the NHS. While most other cancer referrals quickly returned to pre-pandemic levels after the first wave of covid-19, lung cancer referrals only returned to pre-pandemic levels in May 2022.

Cancer health chiefs are warning the public to go to their GP if they have had a persistent cough for longer than three weeks or notice other symptoms like coughing up blood or persistent breathlessness. Around 40,000 cases of lung cancer are diagnosed every year, with the NHS expanding its targeted lung health check programme to ensure it reaches out and screens those most at risk of the cancer.

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Lung cancer is one of the most serious type of cancers and last year was the fifth biggest cause of death in England accounting for 26,410 deaths. After national awareness campaigns and early diagnosis initiatives, one in every four GP referrals are now for suspected cancer – with the NHS seeing record numbers of people getting checked for cancer over the last year, as more than 5.3 million people were referred between June 2021 and May 2022, and over 670,000 since March 2020 starting treatment.

There are usually no signs or symptoms in the