Lung Cancer Awareness with Emma Salori

According to Cancer Australia, in 2023 approximately 14,782 Australians were newly diagnosed with lung cancer. Most lung cancers do not display any symptoms at all until they have spread.

The symptoms of lung cancer can be some or all of the following:

• coughing up blood
• a new or changed cough that doesn’t go away
• chest pain and/or shoulder pain or discomfort – the pain may be worse with coughing or deep breathing
• trouble breathing or shortness of breath
• hoarse voice
• weight loss
• loss of appetite
• chest infection that doesn’t go away
• tiredness or weakness

It is important to note that there are many unrelated conditions that can cause the above symptoms. If you have any of the above symptoms or are concerned about your risk of developing lung cancer, please schedule an appointment with your health care provider to discuss this urgently.

If you have a lung cancer diagnosis or are supporting someone who has been diagnosed with lung cancer please come and chat with our care team about how COUCH can assist to support you. Please also feel free look into the following support services and resources may also be of assistance:

• Cancer Council ‘Understanding Lung Cancer’ Booklet - Understanding Lung Cancer (cancercouncil.com.au)
• Cancer Council QLD – can provide legal and financial support, information and resources, remote peer support services, advice regarding attaining practical support. To learn more visit Cancer Council Queensland | Navigating Cancer Together (cancerqld.org.au) or call 13 11 20
• Lung Foundation Australia – this organisation offers a range of services and resources to support you and help you improve the overall health and wellbeing of people affected by lung cancer including friends and family. Their services include a social worker, lung cancer support nurse, peer support groups (including Lung Cancer Search & Rescue program), educations webinars and evidence based information and resources. To learn more visit www.lungfoundation.com.auor call 1800 654 301

National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP)

The NLCSP is a screening program due to launch in July 2025. The Program involves using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scans to look for lung cancer in high-risk people without any symptoms. It is targeted to eligible people aged between 50 to 70 years old with no signs or symptoms of lung cancer. To learn more about this new National Screening Program please visit https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/nlcsp or chat with one of our nurses.

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References

Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care (2024) About the National Lung Cancer Screening Program, www.health.gov.au/our-work/nlcsp/about

Cancer Australia (2024) www.canceraustralia.gov.au

Cancer Council (2024) Understanding Lung Cancer, www.cancer.org.au/assets/pdf/understanding-lung-cancer-booklet