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Don't put off lung check that could save your life
A LUNG cancer sufferer from Hailsham who is now recovering following life-saving surgery has urged other people to get themselves checked at the first sign of any symptoms.
Ex-smoker David Simes, 68, had part of a lung removed six months after he was first seen at Eastbourne District General Hospital and is now on the mend.
Yet at one stage he was warned by a surgeon at Guy's Hospital in London that without an operation he might have only a year to live.
Mr Simes was treated locally by Dr David Maxwell and underwent x-rays, specialist scans and an internal examination after feeling breathless and coughing up a few spots of blood.
Mr Simes, who gave up tobacco two years ago, said, "I coughed up a couple of tiny spots of blood and my wife said we should have it checked out.
"I would have probably just ignored it but my wife, Janet, insisted. So I had a number of x-rays and Dr Maxwell said there was something he wasn't happy about. It all started from there.
"The doctor was very determined to find out what it was and thank goodness he was. It goes to show that you should not just ignore things if you think something is wrong, you should get it seen to."
Two months ago Mr Simes spent four days in Guy's Hospital after having a lobectomy, where a cancerous lobe in his lung was removed with keyhole surgery.
He does not need any further treatment but has to be seen by Dr Maxwell every six months for the next five years before he is given the complete all-clear.
Mr Simes's wife Janet, a well-known figure for her work with Environment Hailsham, added, "Things happened so quickly and we are very grateful for all the treatment we had.
"He had a chest infection and a bad cough for a while but when there were spots of blood, I knew we had to do something. I have always thought it was better to be safe than sorry."
Lung cancer affects around 39,000 new patients in the UK every year and is the most common cancer in the world. The earlier it is diagnosed the greater the chance of a cure.
A national campaign to raise awareness of the disease started this month to help people know what to look out for and encourage those who have symptoms to get them checked out.
Danger signs include: persistent chest infections; coughs lasting longer than three weeks; excessive tiredness; more spit or phlegm than usual, especially with blood in it; feeling very breathless; chest pains; swelling around face or neck, inexplicable weight loss and voice loss yet with no sore throat.
Smoking is a major risk factor of lung cancer, although one in six people with the disease have never smoked.
More information is available by calling the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Helpline on 0800 358 7200 or Macmillan Cancer Support on 0808 808 0000.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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