Home / Health / Cough Warning: NHS Lists Lung Cancer Signs
Cough Warning: NHS Lists Lung Cancer Signs
2 Oct
Summary
- A persistent cough lasting three weeks or more is a key lung cancer sign.
- Over 33,000 UK lives are lost annually to lung cancer.
- Targeted lung health checks are available for eligible UK smokers.
The NHS is urging vigilance regarding persistent coughs that could indicate lung cancer, following the recent passing of Dame Esther Rantzen from the disease. She died on September 30, 2026, aged 86, after a three-year battle with stage four lung cancer. Key warning signs shared by the NHS include a cough persisting for three weeks or more, worsening coughs, recurring chest infections, and coughing up blood.
Additional symptoms to monitor are pain or aching when breathing or coughing, persistent breathlessness, fatigue, loss of appetite, and unexplained weight loss. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the UK, accounting for approximately 21% of all cancer deaths, with around 90 daily fatalities. Smoking is the primary preventable risk factor.
The UK employs a Targeted Lung Health Check program for individuals aged 55-74 who are current or former smokers. This involves a risk assessment, potentially leading to a low-dose CT scan. Rollout is expanding across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
