Lung cancer can affect anyone, and finding it early gives people more treatment options
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the UK. Fewer than 1 in 5 people diagnosed with lung cancer survive for five years or more, but outcomes are much better when it’s found early. Almost 65% of people diagnosed at stage 1 survive for at least five years, compared with around 5% of people diagnosed at stage 4.
There has been progress. The proportion of people diagnosed at stage 1 or 2 rose from 35.5% in 2023 to 40.2% in 2024. But in 2024, 30.2% of people were still diagnosed after an emergency admission to hospital.
One campaign, two audiences
All You Need Is Lungs is a joint campaign from ALK Positive UK, EGFR+ Lung Cancer UK and the Ruth Strauss Foundation. It has two strands: one for the public and one for healthcare professionals.
For the public, All You Need Is Lungs shares the real stories of people diagnosed with lung cancer. It shows that anyone with lungs can get it, and encourages people to get their symptoms checked.
For healthcare professionals, See Through the Symptoms is the campaign’s dedicated strand. Developed with BTOG, the British Thoracic Oncology Group, it helps GPs, paramedics, physiotherapists, pharmacists and others recognise lung cancer in people who might not fit the expected picture, and encourages early investigation.
Together, they aim to make sure that when someone with lung cancer symptoms seeks help, both the person and the professional they see are thinking about lung cancer.
Lung cancer can affect anyone
Anyone with lungs can get lung cancer. Around 15% of people diagnosed with lung cancer in the UK have never smoked. If it were counted as a separate disease, lung cancer in people who have never smoked would be the eighth most common cancer in the UK.
Many people diagnosed are younger and otherwise fit. Their symptoms can easily be put down to something else, such as a chest infection, asthma, a muscle strain or stress. Many of the volunteers who have shared their stories with All You Need Is Lungs saw several healthcare professionals before they were diagnosed.
Symptoms to look out for
a cough that won’t go away
breathlessness
fatigue
a hoarse or croaky voice
chest, shoulder or back pain
unintentional weight loss
chest infections that keep coming back
coughing up blood
swollen lymph nodes
Think lung cancer, whoever is in front of you
Lung cancer symptoms don’t always show up at the GP first. Shoulder or back pain may go to a physiotherapist. A cough that won’t clear may come up at the pharmacy. Breathlessness may be seen by a paramedic.
For GPs, See Through the Symptoms encourages considering a chest X-ray for anyone with persistent or unexplained symptoms, whatever their smoking history. For other healthcare professionals, it means thinking about lung cancer and encouraging the person to see their GP.
Investigating early gives people the best chance of being diagnosed at a stage when more treatment options are available.
Resources for healthcare professionals
See Through the Symptoms won Public Health Initiative of the Year in 2022. Its website has resources for healthcare professionals, a media kit and real stories showing how lung cancer can present.
See Through the Symptoms is part of All You Need Is Lungs. Find resources for healthcare professionals at seethroughthesymptoms.uk, and the stories behind the campaign at allyouneedislungs.org.uk
Sources: Cancer Research UK; National Lung Cancer Audit State of the Nation Report 2026; Khan et al., BJC Reports (2023)
