Sufferer's message is more must be done to detect lung cancer early

Published on Thursday 27 December 2007 19:59

AS THE head of Lung Cancer Awareness month I was contacted by an inspirational young constituent aged just 23 who, having never smoked, was diagnosed with lung cancer and is now undergoing treatment.

She took the decision to put her energy into ensuring that issues surrounding the disease were highlighted and addressed.

During her research, she made some startling discoveries about her disease that many people may not be aware of. I made a promise to help her highlight the issue.

Lung cancer is the biggest killer of all cancers put together. The survival rate is poor – 80 per cent of patients die within the first year of diagnosis and only 7 per cent make it past five years. The earlier the diagnosis the better the chance of survival but it took doctors a year to diagnose my constituent.

Last month was Lung Cancer Awareness Month and I want the message my constituent is spreading to continue. Using the message "Early Detection Saves Lives" the campaign urges you to see your doctor straight away if you have any of the following symptoms: A cough that doesn't go away after two to three weeks, persistent chest infections, coughing blood, unexplained persistent breathlessness, unexplained persistent tiredness or lack of energy, unexplained persistent weight loss and persistent chest and/or shoulder pain.

These symptoms may not be serious, in which case, you've got nothing to lose by getting them checked out. If they are serious, you've got everything to gain – diagnosis at an early stage could save your life.

My constituent wishes she had known these symptoms were all linked to lung cancer, as she would have pushed her doctors to take more notice. Nobody expects a 23-year-old, non-smoking aerobics instructor to get lung cancer.

While one in eight people with lung cancer have never smoked, smoking is still the major cause of lung cancer, the good news is that quitting works. It's never too late to give up, and the sooner you stop the better. Even if you have been smoking for most of your life, your chances of developing lung cancer will be much less if you give up now, whatever your age.

In December 1985, when I was an MP at Westminster, I introduced a Private Member's Bill to oblige employers to provide separate smoking and non-smoking facilities in the workplace, as well as increase the number of no-smoking areas in public places. I am proud that a blanket ban on smoking in public places has now been introduced in Scotland thanks to Scottish Labour, and that this is now improving the quality of life of non-smokers and smokers who have used that ban as an incentive to quit.

I have written to the Scottish Government to ask them to commit more funding for better research, training, education and early detection of lung cancer and I will continue to highlight the issues my constituent has raised in parliament and elsewhere. She is using her experience to better the lives of others and I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for her compassion and bravery.