On Thursday 1st November, Double Olympic gold medallist Pete Reed used his lung power to help inflate a 12ft pair of inflatable lungs, which are currently touring the UK as part of Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
Reed, who has a lung capacity of 11.68 litres (the largest ever recorded), is just one of many celebrities who are supporting the ‘I Love My Lungs’ campaign. Other famous supporters include Duncan Bannatyne, Jenny Frost and Lynda Bellingham.
Rower Reed, who is now a patron of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation who are responsible for running the campaign, has said he has pledged his support because he relies on his lungs to excel in his sport. Since becoming a patron, he has since witnessed the devastating effects of lung cancer and has stressed the importance of early diagnosis.
“So even though it’s winter and even if you’re a smoker, if you’ve had a bad cough for 2-3 weeks and you can’t get rid of it, make an appointment with your GP today.†He said.
While awareness of symptoms for other cancers is fairly high, for example a lump in your breast or testicles, too few individuals are aware that having a cough for three weeks plus can be an indicator of the early stages of lung cancer.
Symptoms to look out for include:
- a cough that continues for more than three weeks
- coughing up blood
- unexplained and persistent breathlessness
- unexplained persistent tiredness
- unexplained persistent weight loss
- repeated chest infections.
According to Cancer Research UK, in most individuals lung cancer is linked to cigarette smoking â€" with figures suggesting that smoking causes almost 9 out of 10 cases (86%). In addition, it is thought that around 3% of cases are caused by exposure to secondhand smoke in non-smokers.
If you are a smoker who would like to give up, please visit our quit smoking page to find out how hypnotherapy could help you.
View and comment on the original article from the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.Â
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