First Team
Saints back Lung Cancer Awareness Month
28th November 2016
Monday 28th November
St Johnstone’s number three today used his club shirt to highlight the importance of getting a cough that lasts three weeks or more checked out by a GP.
Tam Scobbie became the latest player to back the Detect Cancer Early lung campaign which aims to drive awareness of the fact that a cough for three weeks or more could be a sign of lung cancer.
The drive, which coincides with Lung Cancer Awareness Month, hopes to encourage more people with the symptom to get checked by their GP sooner rather than later.
The Detect Cancer Early (DCE) lung campaign is fronted by Sir Alex Ferguson who lost his own parents to the disease.
The football legend, a former St Johnstone player, stars in a film released to mark the awareness month where he meets a fan who survived lung cancer after seeking help early and praises him as a ‘great example to everyone in Scotland’.
The five year survival rate for those diagnosed at an early stage is almost 20 times higher than for those diagnosed at a late stage2.
Latest statistics show that since the launch of DCE, the percentage of patients diagnosed with the earliest stage of lung cancer (stage 1) in Scotland has increased by over a third (35.6 per cent overall), and by even more amongst those living in the most deprived areas (44.1 per cent)1.
Tam Scobbie, said: “If I can use the number on my shirt to encourage people to act, then that’s a great thing. The earlier cancer is found, the easier it is to treat. If you’re worried about yourself or a loved one, don’t delay in making a GP appointment. It could save your life.” Dr Michelle Watts, Associate Medical Director for Primary Care, NHS Tayside said: “If you’ve had a cough for three weeks or more, your GP wants to see you. It may be nothing serious but it does need to be checked as a persistent cough could be a potential sign of lung cancer.
"The earlier lung cancer is found, the easier it is to treat. You shouldn’t worry about wasting our time as the sooner we see you, the quicker we can help.”
For more information visit getcheckedearly.org