The eight ‘red flag’ signs of lung cancer you need to know – as former Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson dies aged 68
PEOPLE are being urged to look out for eight “red flag” symptoms which may be early signs of lung cancer after Quentin Willson’s tragic death.
The former Top Gear presenter, 68, sadly passed away following a short battle with the deadly disease.
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Quentin Willson sadly passed away following a short battle with lung cancerCredit: Getty
The ex-Fifth Gear host sadly passed away following a short battle with lung cancerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
A 3D rendered image of cancerous malignant cellsCredit: Getty
Primary lung cancer – which begins in the lungs, rather than spreading to them from another place – is the second most common type of cancer in the UK.
It is considered a common cancer alongside prostate, breast and bowel, which together make up more than half of all new cases.
Around 49,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer every year and 35,000 die from it, according to Cancer Research UK.
There are two types of lung cancer – 80 per cent of cases are non-small-cell, while small-cell lung cancer is a rarer type which spreads more quickly.
It is almost equally common in women and men, but it’s rare in people under the age of 40.
Just one in 10 patients survives for a decade or more after being diagnosed, and lung tumours make up 21 per cent of cancer deaths in the UK but only 13 per cent of cases.
The main reason that it is so deadly is that symptoms are not obvious in the early stages.
When signs do appear, they may include:
Having a cough most of the time
A new cough that lingers for more than 2 to 3 weeks and doesn’t seem to be getting better, unlike a typical cold, may be a sign of lung cancer.
A change in a cough you have had for a long time
If you have a chronic “smoker’s cough,” pay attention if it suddenly sounds different, becomes deeper, hurts more, or happens more often.
Being short of breath
You might feel surprisingly winded doing simple everyday tasks that used to be easy, such as climbing a regular flight of stairs or walking to the mailbox.
Coughing up phlegm (sputum) with signs of blood
This is a significant sign, even if the amount of blood is small, appearing as rusty-colored streaks or pinkish froth.
An ache or pain in the chest or shoulder
This pain is often dull and persistent, and it may get noticeably worse when you breathe deeply, cough, or laugh.
Loss of appetite
You might find you have no interest in food, or you may feel uncomfortably full after eating only a very small amount.
Quentin was a well-known figure in the world of automotive televisionCredit: Getty
Tiredness (fatigue)
This is a deep, constant exhaustion that doesn’t improve even after a good night’s sleep or resting during the day.
Losing weight
This refers to losing a noticeable amount of weight (often 10 pounds or more) without trying, dieting, or increasing your exercise.
Less common symptoms, usually associated with more advanced forms of the disease, include a hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing and pain and discomfort under the ribs, in the chest or shoulder.
Meanwhile, finger clubbing (a change in the shape of your fingers and nails), facial swelling and swelling in the neck are also signs to look out for.
It is important to note that having these symptoms does not automatically mean you have cancer; many less serious conditions can cause them, too.
However, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms persistently, it is essential to consult a doctor as soon as possible.
What are the risk factors of lung cancer?
Smoking is without doubt the biggest cause of lung cancer – and the length of time you have smoked is more important than how many cigarettes you smoke a day.
Even if you’ve never picked up a cigarette in your life, a combination of other factors can still put you at risk of developing the disease.
For starters, passive smoking – breathing in other people’s cigarette smoke – can slightly increase your risk, according to Macmillan Cancer Support.
But it’s still possible to develop lung cancer even if you’ve sworn off tobacco.
How does smoking increase your risk of lung cancer?
SMOKING cigarettes is the single biggest risk factor for lung cancer.
It’s responsible for more than seven out of 10 cases, according to the NHS.
Tobacco smoke contains more than 60 different toxic substances, which are known to be carcinogenic.
If you smoke more than 25 cigarettes a day, you are 25 times more likely to get lung cancer than someone who does not smoke.
Frequent exposure to other people’s tobacco smoke – known as passive or secondhand smoking – can also increase your risk of developing lung cancer.
Aside from cigarettes, the following products can also put you at risk of the disease:
- Cigars
- Pipe tobacco
- Snuff (a powdered form of tobacco)
- Chewing tobacco
- Cannabis (especially when mixed with tobacco)
Source: NHS
In fact, up to 14 per cent of people with lung cancer in the UK have never smoked, according to Cancer Research UK.
“To put this into perspective, if lung cancer in people who have never smoked was a separate disease, it would be the eighth most prevalent cause of cancer-related death,” the charity warns.
In some ways, nonsmoker lung cancer might be considered a separate disease to smoking-related lung cancer, as it has unique molecular and biological characteristics and responds differently to treatment.
Sufferers might also be struck down by a different set of symptoms, according to oncologists at Yale Medicine.
Most nonsmokers have no early signs of lung cancer, which means they’re often not diagnosed until it has spread.
Other factors
Your age is another driver, as the cancer is more common in older people, with more than four in 10 people diagnosed with lung cancer being 75 and over.
Materials and substances you inhale while working can also increase your chances of developing lung cancer.
One such material is asbestos, a material that was previously used in the building industry.
People who have been in prolonged or close contact with asbestos have a higher risk of getting lung cancer, Macmillan said.
Heavy metals and diesel exhaust are two more cancer-causing agents that people could be exposed to at work, Yale oncologists added.
Then there’s radon gas.
In certain parts of the UK, a natural gas called radon can pass from the soil into the foundations of buildings.
While exposure to high levels of radon isn’t common, it can increase the risk of developing lung cancer, particularly in people who also smoke.
Finally, where you live can also up your risk, as research has shown that air pollution can be a driving factor behind lung cancer cases.
The risk is linked to air quality and how much pollution a person is exposed to, but for most people, the risk is very small, Macmillan noted.
It’s also important to bring up concerns about exposure to secondhand smoke, radon, pollution or other known contributors.
You should see a GP if you experience any lung cancer symptoms.
How is lung cancer treated?
Treatment for lung cancer depends on the nature of the disease in each patient.
Some cases of non-small-cell lung cancer can be treated with surgery, while others may require chemotherapy and radiotherapy, particularly if the disease has spread or if the patient has other health issues which rule out surgery.
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Meanwhile, small-cell lung cancer is usually treated with chemotherapy – sometimes in combination with radiotherapy.
For more information, please visit Cancer Research UK
