Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the UK with 48,000 people diagnosed, and around 35,000 people dying from the disease each year.^₁

It’s also the biggest cancer killer of women in the UK and shockingly causes more deaths each year than breast cancer.^₂

Despite its lung cancer being the most common cancer, our research, as part of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, revealed 70% of us are not aware of all the signs and symptoms of lung cancer.

Watch this short video to see what symptoms to look out for:

Compared to many other cancers, lung cancer is often diagnosed at a later stage, with around a third of people with lung cancer in England diagnosed following an emergency hospital admission, and 68% of those diagnosed this way already way already having stage 4 lung cancer.^₃

Several factors can contribute to delays in diagnosis including:

• symptoms being mistaken for less serious conditions, particularly among people who have never smoked

• concerns about being blamed or judged because of assumptions about smoking, which can affect how quickly people seek help.  

Our research shows 27% of non-smokers who had smoked in the past, said they delayed seeking medical advice for symptoms because of concerns about the stigma of getting lung cancer - as they had once been a smoker.

Faster diagnosis of lung cancer can mean more treatment options, greater opportunities for effective treatment and better outcomes.

Waiting for tests and results can be one of the most difficult parts of any health concern.

For lung cancer, the target set by the Government is to deliver a referral to diagnosis in 28 days, but recent analysis from NHS England’s Cancer Waiting Times statistics showed only 60%^₄ of patients with lung cancer received their diagnosis within this 28-day timeframe. Diagnosing lung cancer can often take quite a long time when several tests are needed, as each must be scheduled separately and the results reviewed before the next one can be arranged.

With lung cancer, every day matters. Evidence suggests that faster diagnosis and earlier access to the right treatment can improve outcomes. That’s why at GenesisCare, we’re building a new Lung Cancer Rapid Response Pathway with the aim of revolutionising lung cancer care in the UK.  This service will be available at our new centre in Leeds following its opening in January 2027.  This service is designed to support GPs with timely referrals, rapid access to diagnostics and advice where symptoms may not fit traditional expectations

At GenesisCare, patient’s from throughout the UK can be referred to our National Private Lung Cancer Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) to have their case reviewed, with treatment recommendations made by a team of some of the UK’s leading and most experienced lung cancer experts. 
 
This combined expertise helps identify the most appropriate treatment pathway for each patient’s diagnosis, with a focus on outcomes and quality of life. It also helps patients understand their options and make informed decisions with greater confidence.

At GenesisCare, our clinicians have access to some of the most up to date innovations for treating lung cancer including the latest drug regimens and advanced radiotherapy techniques such as SABR and MRI-guided adaptive radiotherapy.