Early diagnosis of lung cancer in people most at risk

Frank M Sullivan; Mara van Beusekom

doi:10.3399/bjgp20X713537

THE PROBLEM

The current approach to the diagnosis of lung cancer is ineffective. By the time typical symptoms are apparent, the disease has usually spread beyond the primary site.¹ As a result, 80% of the 48 000 people a year who develop lung cancer in the UK have a poor prognosis, with fewer than 10% surviving for 10 years or more.² People over the age of 50 years, smokers, and those living in areas of socioeconomic deprivation are affected disproportionately.² Late diagnosis and higher levels of multimorbidity in these areas constitute another example of the Inverse Care Law.³ Earlier diagnosis is likely to enable more patients to benefit from recent advances in surgery, pharmacological interventions, and radiotherapy.⁴