Lung cancer: early detection & preventionA cough that won’t go? Get it checked.Lung cancer often causes no symptoms early on, which is why so many people are diagnosed late. Knowing the signs, acting on them quickly and lowering your risk all give you the best chance of catching it early, when treatment works best.Book a GP appointmentCall 07857 761328If you are struggling to breathe, have chest pain or are coughing up a lot of blood, call 999.Same & next-day appointmentsChest examined properlyChest imaging & bloods arrangedYou keep your NHS GPGP appointment £1201What is lung cancer?2Signs to look for3Causes4Who is at risk5Your appointment6Lower your risk7Get help now8FAQs Medically reviewed by Dr Sam R Bandularatne, MBBS, DFMS, MRCGP · GP Partner & GP Trainer · GMC 5208303OUR GP Dundee · Last reviewed November 2026Seen by a GPSymptoms taken seriouslyFast tests and referralHelp to stop smokingStart hereWhat lung cancer is, and why early mattersLung cancer starts when cells in the airways or lungs grow out of control. It is one of the most common cancers in Scotland, and the most common cause of cancer death in the UK.There are two main types. Non-small cell lung cancer is by far the commonest, making up more than 8 in 10 cases. Small cell lung cancer is less common and tends to grow faster.Small lung cancers rarely cause symptoms, so many people are only diagnosed once it has spread. Found early, lung cancer is much more likely to be treated successfully, sometimes with an operation or radiotherapy that aims for a cure. That is why it pays to get symptoms checked promptly rather than waiting to see if they settle.Often silent at firstEarly lung cancer can cause no symptoms at all, so any new or lasting chest symptom deserves a check.Smoking is the main causeAbout 7 in 10 lung cancers in the UK are caused by smoking, but people who have never smoked can get it too.Early means more optionsCancers found at an early stage are far more likely to be treatable with the aim of a cure.Most checks are reassuringMost people with these symptoms do not have cancer, but getting checked is the only way to know.Back to top ↑Signs to look forSymptoms worth getting checkedThese are usually caused by something less serious, like an infection. But if they last three weeks or more, or keep coming back, see a GP.A cough that lasts three weeks or more, or a change in a long-standing coughCoughing up blood, or phlegm streaked with blood or rust-colouredGetting more out of breath than usual doing everyday thingsChest or shoulder pain, often worse when you breathe in or coughChest infections that keep coming back or will not clear upLosing weight without trying, or going off your foodFeeling tired or weak all the time for no clear reasonA hoarse voice that will not settle, or fingertips that look wider and curved (clubbing)Never ignore blood. Coughing up any blood, even once, needs an urgent GP appointment. Less common signs include swelling of the face or neck, difficulty swallowing and a lump above the collarbone.At OUR GPGet a lasting cough or symptom checkedFor anyone with a cough for 3 weeks or more, breathlessness, chest pain or other symptoms on this page.A 30-minute face-to-face appointment: a full history and examination, and a fast referral for a scan or chest X-ray if needed.Good to know: a chest X-ray can miss early lung cancer, so if symptoms continue you will be referred on.About GP appointments →£12030 minutes face to face · video £110 · phone £60 Book nowBack to top ↑CausesWhat raises the risk of lung cancerIt is not always possible to know what caused an individual’s cancer, but these are the main known factors. Many of them can be reduced.GroupExamplesSmokingCigarettes, cigars and pipes. The risk rises the more you smoke and the longer you have smoked, and falls after you stopOther people’s smokeBreathing in second-hand smoke regularly over many years, at home, in the car or at workWork exposuresAsbestos (often in building trades, shipyards and older buildings), silica dust, diesel exhaust and some other chemicalsRadon gasA natural radioactive gas from rocks and soil that can build up indoors in some areas. It is linked to about 1 in 20 lung cancers, mostly in people who also smokeAir pollutionBreathing polluted outdoor air over a long periodLung diseaseChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and some other long-term lung conditionsFamily historyA parent, brother or sister who has had lung cancerWho is more at riskAnyone can get lung cancer, but it is more likely in people who:smoke now, or have smoked in the pastare aged 50 or overhave COPD or another long-term lung diseasehave a close relative who has had lung cancerhave worked with asbestos, silica or diesel fumeshave lived for years with second-hand smoke, high radon or air pollutionMore than 1 in 4 lung cancers are not caused by smoking. If you have symptoms, get checked whatever your smoking history.Back to top ↑Your appointmentWhat the GP will doThe aim is to find out quickly what is causing your symptoms, rule out cancer where possible, and get you to a specialist fast if it is needed.Listen and askAbout your symptoms and how long you have had them, smoking, the work you have done and any family history.Examine youWe listen to your chest and check your neck, hands and fingers for signs such as swollen glands or clubbing.Arrange testsUsually urgent chest imaging and blood tests. A clear scan does not always rule out lung cancer, so we will review you if symptoms carry on.Refer quickly if neededIf anything is concerning, we refer you urgently to a chest specialist, who may arrange further testing. Being referred does not mean you have cancer.Back to top ↑Lower your riskWhat you can doSome risks cannot be changed, but many can. These steps lower your chance of lung cancer and help catch it early if it does happen.Stop smokingThe single biggest step you can take. Your risk falls from the day you stop, and it is never too late.Get free help to quitStop-smoking medicines plus support give you the best chance. Call Quit Your Way Scotland on 0800 84 84 84, ask your pharmacy, or ask us.Keep smoke awayMake your home and car smoke-free to protect yourself and your family from second-hand smoke.Check your home for radonCheck your postcode at ukradon.org and test your home if you live in a higher-radon area.Stay safe at workFollow safety rules and wear the right protective mask around asbestos, silica dust and diesel fumes.Know your normalNotice changes in your cough, breathing, weight or energy, and see a GP if something lasts three weeks. Lung cancer: finding it earlyDownload our lung cancer leafletA free two-page guide for patients, families and carers: the signs to get checked, how to lower your risk, what the GP will do, and when to get help. Print it for yourself or a relative.PDF · 2 pages · A4 · 224 KBDownload leaflet (PDF)Open to printBack to top ↑Get help nowWhen it can’t waitCall 999 if youare struggling to breathe, choking or unable to speak · have chest or upper back pain · are coughing up a lot of blood · have sudden swelling of your face or neck with breathlessnessContact a GP the same day, or NHS 24 on 111 out of hours, ifyou have coughed up any blood, your breathing is getting worse, a chest infection is not better after antibiotics, or you notice a new lump above your collarbone.A private appointment is not a substitute for emergency care. If you are unsure, call 999 or NHS 24 on 111.Back to top ↑FAQsCommon questions I have had a cough for three weeks. Should I worry?Most coughs that last a few weeks are caused by infections, asthma, reflux or smoking, not cancer. But a cough lasting three weeks or more should be checked by a GP, especially if you smoke or used to, or if you have other symptoms such as breathlessness, weight loss or blood in your phlegm. Can you get lung cancer if you have never smoked?Yes. Smoking causes about 7 in 10 lung cancers, but people who have never smoked can get it too. Other causes include second-hand smoke, radon, asbestos and other work exposures, air pollution and family history. Is it too late to stop smoking?No. Your risk of lung cancer starts to fall after you stop and keeps falling over the years, and stopping also helps your heart and breathing straight away. Free support and stop-smoking medicines make quitting much more likely to work. Does a normal scan mean I don’t have lung cancer?Usually it is reassuring, but a chest X-ray can miss some lung cancers, which is why a CT scan is often the better test. If your symptoms carry on or get worse after a normal scan, come back and we may arrange further tests or refer you to a specialist. Is there lung cancer screening in Scotland?Not yet as a national programme. Pilots and studies are running in some areas, and a national programme is being planned. England already invites people aged 55 to 74 who have ever smoked for a lung check. If you are invited, please take part. Do e-cigarettes (vapes) cause lung cancer?Vaping is much less harmful than smoking and can help people stop smoking, but it is not risk-free and its long-term effects are still being studied. If you do not smoke, do not start vaping.Worried right now?If you are struggling to breathe, have chest pain or are coughing up a lot of blood, call 999. Out of hours, call NHS 24 on 111.Back to top ↑EvidenceWhere this information comes fromThis page follows Scottish and UK guidance on recognising, referring and managing lung cancer.Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer: lung and pleural cancers (2025)NICE CKS: Lung and pleural cancers, recognition and referralNICE NG122: Lung cancer, diagnosis and managementBMJ Best Practice: Non-small cell lung cancerNHS: Symptoms of lung cancerAmerican Cancer Society: Signs and symptoms of lung cancerBack to top ↑Worried about a cough or chest symptom?Book a GP appointment and we will examine you, arrange the right tests and refer you quickly if needed.Book a GP appointmentWhatsApp 07857 761328This page is general information and is not medical advice or a diagnosis. What’s appropriate is a clinical decision made with a GP at your appointment. OUR GP is a trading name of SRS Health Group Limited, regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland. All doctors hold a licence to practise with the General Medical Council. Meet our team. We see patients from Dundee, Angus, Perthshire and Fife. More questions? See our FAQs.