Why spotting cancer early saves lives

If you’ve had a cough for more than three weeks, you need to see your GP now (even if you think it’s just a smoker’s cough).  It could be something serious such as cancer. Chances are it’s something less serious, but it’s better to know now. These days, the majority of people with lung cancer survive if its caught at an early stage.

Spotting it early could save your life.

The 'small c' campaign is alerting people to the warning signs of cancer and the need to go to the doctor without delay. It is designed to help people recognise symptoms when cancer is still small and more vulnerable to treatment.  The five year survival rates for lung cancer below show that survival rates are higher when the cancer is diagnosed early. 

Lung cancer five year survival rates

Stage at diagnosis	Survival rate
1A	Up to 73%
1B	Up to 58%
2A	Up to 46%
2B	Up to 36%
3A	Up to 24%
3B	Up to 9%
4	Up to 13%

 

 

 

 

 

 

These statistics refer to non small cell lung cancer, the most common form of the disease, which is diagnosed in 88% of cases. 

Source: The International Staging Committee of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer 2009 

Find out more details about the 'small c' campaign and the importance of early diagnosis.

For the latest lung cancer statistics, visit Cancer Research UK's website.