Ayr United star urges fans not to ignore three week cough Ayr United’s number three on the 7th November 2016, used his club shirt to highlight the importance of getting a cough that lasts three weeks or more checked out by a GP.
Paddy Boyle 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 Ayr United 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.
Paddy Boyle, 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 Hugh Brown, Lead GP for Detect Cancer Early, NHS Ayrshire & Arran said: “If you have either a cough that has changed or you have a new cough for three weeks or more, you 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.”
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