Lung disease rate warning

LUNG cancer rates in the Lothians would be massively reduced if respiratory disease was discovered earlier, experts have said.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major issue across the area, with thousands suffering from varying severities of the illness. NHS Lothian has already launched numerous schemes to help sufferers.

Now experts have urged local health chiefs, and individuals themselves, to attempt to diagnose it sooner, stopping some people developing lung cancer – a disease which has a poor survival rate.

Monica Fletcher, chief executive of the organisation Education for Health, said: “COPD is often undetected. People frequently ignore the symptoms of lung disease and leave it too late before going to the doctor.”