Lung cancer battle 'must be priority'

SERVICES for lung cancer patients are "insufficient", a report has found.

Despite being one of the biggest cancer killers in the Lothians, the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation has blasted what was on offer for Scottish patients.

Its study said survival rates for the disease - which is linked with smoking - were "unacceptably low" and that more investment had to be ploughed in to bring standards up to scratch.

The charity's lung cancer information and support services director, Suzy Mercer, said: "For the third year running, the report card has highlighted that lung cancer must remain a priority on the health agenda.

"While we are pleased to see some improvements in areas such as standards of care received by patients, there is still much to be done.

"We would particularly like to see more investment in awareness campaigns as we know early diagnosis of the disease can save lives."