Stigma and misinformation around lung cancer is killing people, says Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation – with research showing that only one in 4 people in the UK are able to name a single symptom of the disease*.
The charity is releasing ‘15 truths about lung cancer in 2025’ during Lung Cancer Awareness Month (November) in a bid to educate people about a disease that results in the death of someone every 15 minutes in the UK**.
“Lots of people still think that if you don’t smoke, you won’t get lung cancer,” says Chief Exec Paula Chadwick. “This myth, along with others, is killing people by contributing to the stigmatizing of patients, delaying of diagnoses and obstruction of access to early care.
“Research by the Global Lung Cancer Coalition shows that one in four people in the UK can’t name a single symptom of the disease and lots of the things people think they know are often inaccurate or exaggerated.”
Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation – which was founded in 1990 and provides information, finances research and supports people affected by lung cancer – says that in fact around 28% of diagnoses are in people who have never smoked***.
Paula continued “We know that 37% of the British public feel less sympathy for people with lung cancer than other types of cancer****, which most people do not realise is actually the biggest cancer killer in the UK and kills more people than breast, prostate and pancreatic cancers combined*****.
“That we need to say this is very sad – whoever you are, no one deserves lung cancer, and no one should feel embarrassed or stigma around having the disease.”
‘This is lung cancer’ 15 truths about lung cancer in 2025
1. Got Lungs? Get Checked The disease can affect anyone so if you have
lungs and are concerned you should get checked.
2. No One Deserves This No one chooses cancer and no one should be blamed
for it.
3. Can You Name One? One in four people in the UK don’t know a single
lung cancer symptom.
4. #1 Cancer Killer of Women Lung cancer kills more women than breast and
ovarian cancer combined and is the second most common cancer for both
men and women.
5. Spot It Early = Live Longer People diagnosed at the earliest stage are
nearly 20 times more likely to survive for five years than those whose cancer
is caught late.
6. Stigma Kills Stigma delays or even stops diagnosis which leads to worse
outcomes.
7. Screening Saves Lives Three-quarters of cancers found through screening
are caught early.
8. Diagnosis Isn’t the End Many people live and live well after lung cancer.
9. No Discrimination Lung cancer does not discriminate by age – figures show
10% of lung cancers occur in people under 55 – or by gender or sexuality.
10. Never Smoked Around 28% of incidences are not caused by smoking. Other
causes include workplace exposure (13%), air pollution (8%) and radiation
(5%).
11. No Cough? Still check Not everyone with lung cancer will have a cough,
know all the signs.
12. Living Proof People with lung cancer are still parents, friends, lovers,
colleagues and members of our community, not just patients.
13. Survivor Not Statistic Stats tell trends. People tell stories — and they’re
rewriting the odds.
14. Act Now. Live Longer 75% of people diagnosed with lung cancer through
screening are caught at an early stage.
15. From Diagnosis to Finish Line Some people don’t just survive lung cancer,
they run marathons after a diagnosis with it.
