Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Did you know, lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the United Kingdom and kills more people than colon, breast and prostate cancer combined

What is lung cancer?

Lung cancer can start in the windpipe, the main airway or the lungs. It develops when there is uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells inside the lungs, which grow to form tumours that can be fatal. If left untreated, the cancer can spread to other parts of the body.

Causes of lung cancer:

By far the biggest cause of lung cancer is smoking, which causes more than 8 out of 10 cases (86%). However, a number of substances that occur in the workplace may also cause lung cancer. These include:

–    Asbestos which is often found in the construction and shipbuilding industries as well as boiler installation work and plumbing.

–    Silica which is found in construction, glass making, mining, sand-blasting, grinding and quarrying. This may cause a condition known as silicosis which in turn increases the risk of lung cancer.

–    Diesel exhaust often found in the mining and professional driving industries.

Most dangerous chemicals have been banned for several decades and employers are now legally required to prevent and control exposure to chemicals that may cause cancer. But cancer can take many years, or even decades, to develop. So it may be that symptoms do not become noticeable until years after employment has ceased.

Symptoms to look out for:

Lung cancer often has no symptoms until it has spread and some symptoms are similar to those of other common illnesses. Lung cancer symptoms may include the following:

•    Having a cough most of the time
•    A change in a cough you have had for a long time
•    Shortness of breath or wheezing
•    Coughing up phlegm with blood in it
•    An ache or pain in the chest
•    Loss of appetite and losing weight
•    Tiredness (fatigue)
•    Pneumonia

If you notice any of these symptoms, it is important to go to your GP as soon as possible. The earlier a cancer is picked up, the easier it is to treat it and the more likely the treatment is to be successful.

Making a claim:

If your employer has exposed you to dangerous substances without adequate protection and your exposure has led to you suffering from lung cancer, then you may be entitled to compensation. To see whether you have a claim, please contact our Industrial Disease team today on 01482 323697.