East Lancashire is a lung cancer hotspot

2:00pm Friday 9th November 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Catherine Pye, Health reporter

EX-SMOKER Ernie Burton EX-SMOKER Ernie Burton

ONE person a day is diagnosed with lung cancer in East Lancashire.

The area remains a hotspot for lung cancer, with 350 cases diagnosed annually, 90per cent of those caused by smoking.

Survival rates in East Lancashire are also one of the worst in the country, with only 23per cent of patients surviving a year after diagnosis, and only 6.6per cent alive five years after their diagnosis.

Ernie Burton, 62, of Great Harwood, was diagnosed with lung cancer in March 2010 and, following the removal of half of his left lung, is now in recovery.

For decades, he smoked half an ounce of tobacco a day, and said this caused the disease.

He said: “I’d had a cough for a while and, at first, I was given antibiotics, which didn’t have any effect. My wife persuaded me to go back to the doctors and, after an X Ray and a CT scan, I was told there was a shadow on my lung and it was cancer.

“It was a bombshell. I was scared and panic stricken.

“When I went in for my operation, I wondered whether I’d wake up again.

“But I was fortunate. All the way through my chemo I didn’t suffer any side-effects, apart from an irregular heartbeat.”

Mr Burton immediately stopped smoking when given his diagnosis, and said that losing half a lung has resulted in him quickly becoming breathless when walking and talking.

He is keen for other people to know the importance of early diagnosis and a positive attitude.

He added: “If you've got a persistent cough, don’t just sit there, go to the doctor. If you bury your head in the sand, it’s not going to go away.

“Attitude is also vitally important. If you can keep positive, that’s half of the battle.”

As part of the I Love My Lungs campaign, which runs throughout November, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust has arranged with the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation for a pair of 12ft MEGA lungs to visit Blackburn today, to highlight the fact that lung cancer is the UK’s biggest cancer killer.

Paula Chadwick, Foundation chief executive said: “We know public awareness of symptoms of other cancers, such as a lump in your breast or testicles, is quite high, but far too few people know that having a cough for three weeks, or more, can be a sign of lung cancer.

“The earlier people are diagnosed, the more chance they can receive treatment and the more lives that can be saved. So, if there is something not quite right, then please get it checked out.”

The disease, which claims the lives of 35,000 people in the UK every year, costs the UK healthcare system £9,071 per person annually. The giant lungs will be outside the main entrance of Blackburn Town Hall today, from 10am to 3pm.

Comments (7)

4:48pm Fri 9 Nov 12

mavrick says...

Why are the survival rates so bad in East Lancs? What is being done better else where and why is it not being done here? can't be anything to do with cost cutting surely.
Why are the survival rates so bad in East Lancs? What is being done better else where and why is it not being done here? can't be anything to do with cost cutting surely. mavrick

5:05pm Fri 9 Nov 12

jogalot says...

Take control of your own health! As Mr Burton says a positive attitude helps a lot. Notice how he immediately gave up smoking when he got his diagnosis? Here's my diagnosis to all smokers - your health will deteriorate and there's a strong possibility of cancer, so give up smoking now! Giving up smoking is simple - you just stop and don't ever smoke another one. Very simple. I didn't say easy, but if you understand you need to care about your own health it is easier to give up.

Here's a useful tip: wash a lemon, put it in the freezer and then grate some of it every day onto a meal. It will have 10 times more vitamins than lemon juice and is also a known cure for some forms of cancer. It will help prevent cancer.

Here's another useful tip: natural yoghurt (Lidl is good) plus a tablespoon of refrigerated flax seed oil per day can cure cancer. I have a friend who cured himself with this formula.

Sorry if being so positive and cheerful has had the opposite effect on some of you, but you can control your own health and live longer and happier.
Take control of your own health! As Mr Burton says a positive attitude helps a lot. Notice how he immediately gave up smoking when he got his diagnosis? Here's my diagnosis to all smokers - your health will deteriorate and there's a strong possibility of cancer, so give up smoking now! Giving up smoking is simple - you just stop and don't ever smoke another one. Very simple. I didn't say easy, but if you understand you need to care about your own health it is easier to give up. Here's a useful tip: wash a lemon, put it in the freezer and then grate some of it every day onto a meal. It will have 10 times more vitamins than lemon juice and is also a known cure for some forms of cancer. It will help prevent cancer. Here's another useful tip: natural yoghurt (Lidl is good) plus a tablespoon of refrigerated flax seed oil per day can cure cancer. I have a friend who cured himself with this formula. Sorry if being so positive and cheerful has had the opposite effect on some of you, but you can control your own health and live longer and happier. jogalot

6:25pm Fri 9 Nov 12

Legal Beagle says...

"Why are the survival rates so bad in East Lancs?"

Because there is a higher proportion of people in East Lancs than elsewhere in the country who are poor and / or ignorant and through ignorance and / or stupidity fail to take care of their health.

This is not a criticism of East Lancashire; it's just a matter of fact. If a survey were to be carried out in the East end of Glasgow, or Salford or Bethnal Green I'm sure the statistics would be similar. Poor people are sick people.

"Here's a useful tip: wash a lemon, put it in the freezer and then grate some of it every day onto a meal. It will have 10 times more vitamins than lemon juice and is also a known cure for some forms of cancer."

Would you care to enlighten us with some actual clinical evidence? In the absence of such the inference would be that this is complete claptrap.
"Why are the survival rates so bad in East Lancs?" Because there is a higher proportion of people in East Lancs than elsewhere in the country who are poor and / or ignorant and through ignorance and / or stupidity fail to take care of their health. This is not a criticism of East Lancashire; it's just a matter of fact. If a survey were to be carried out in the East end of Glasgow, or Salford or Bethnal Green I'm sure the statistics would be similar. Poor people are sick people. "Here's a useful tip: wash a lemon, put it in the freezer and then grate some of it every day onto a meal. It will have 10 times more vitamins than lemon juice and is also a known cure for some forms of cancer." Would you care to enlighten us with some actual clinical evidence? In the absence of such the inference would be that this is complete claptrap. Legal Beagle

11:55pm Fri 9 Nov 12

hairy mary says...

i blame methane gas from whinney hill dump, i can still smell it early in the morning
i blame methane gas from whinney hill dump, i can still smell it early in the morning hairy mary

1:42pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Major Tom says...

Ban smoking. Any one caught smoking should automatically give up all entitlement to healthcare and benefits. Why should hard working taxpayers, many of whom don't take part in this filthy habit, foot the bill for the addicts!
Ban smoking. Any one caught smoking should automatically give up all entitlement to healthcare and benefits. Why should hard working taxpayers, many of whom don't take part in this filthy habit, foot the bill for the addicts! Major Tom

7:53am Sun 11 Nov 12

Chris P Bacon says...

Major Tom wrote:
Ban smoking. Any one caught smoking should automatically give up all entitlement to healthcare and benefits. Why should hard working taxpayers, many of whom don't take part in this filthy habit, foot the bill for the addicts!
Well said, sir. You hit the nail square on the head there.
[quote][p][bold]Major Tom[/bold] wrote: Ban smoking. Any one caught smoking should automatically give up all entitlement to healthcare and benefits. Why should hard working taxpayers, many of whom don't take part in this filthy habit, foot the bill for the addicts![/p][/quote]Well said, sir. You hit the nail square on the head there. Chris P Bacon

2:30pm Mon 12 Nov 12

disgusted tunbridge wells says...

Smokers give the government about 10 billion pounds a year, they don't collect as much pension or benefits as they die earlier so all in all they are a good thing
Smokers give the government about 10 billion pounds a year, they don't collect as much pension or benefits as they die earlier so all in all they are a good thing disgusted tunbridge wells

Comments are closed on this article.

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree