It has been announced this month that a daily pill to treat lung cancer is to become available on the NHS, which studies have shown has the ability to double survival time for some lung cancer patients. For those with a certain type of lung cancer, the pill, called Osimertinib, has been designed to be taken alongside chemotherapy treatment following the completion of surgery, with the aim of preventing future cancerous spread.

This is such welcome news, as the drug was previously only funded by the Cancer Drugs Fund and not directly or permanently by the NHS. The Cancer Drugs Fund is a crucial resource allowing millions of cancer patients access to promising new treatments while clinical uncertainty is still being addressed, and also interim funding for newly recommended cancer drugs that have not yet received established funding on the NHS. However, allowing all cancer doctors to prescribe the drug by bringing it into general NHS use will ensure many more patients can benefit.

This promising news for the treatment of lung cancer is very much welcome, as it is a particularly devastating type of cancer and said to be one of the six least survivable cancers. This is because lung cancer often does not cause noticeable symptoms until it has already spread throughout the lungs, and also because the first symptoms of lung cancer are usually a cough and fatigue, symptoms which can be mistaken for much less serious illness.

As clinical negligence solicitors at JMW, we see the awful impact that advanced lung cancer can have on our clients. Lung cancer patients and their families ask JMW for support if they suspect a diagnosis has been made too late, despite there being warning signs that were reported to doctors. Sometimes other mistakes can be made such as x-rays or scans not being checked and reported on appropriately, meaning a patient is told they are fine when they need to be started on treatment. Errors such as these have devastating consequences for patients, including tragically shortening their life expectancy.

Lung cancer is currently the fourth most prevalent cancer in the UK, yet arguably awareness of the signs of lung cancer is still not where it should be, even amongst some medical professionals. Lung cancer can affect anyone, including those who are young, healthy and who do not smoke. If you do have symptoms such as a persistent cough that doesn’t go away, shortness of breath, fatigue, or unexplained weight loss, please do go and see your GP for a medical opinion as soon as possible. We also urge GPs to consider lung cancer in any patient who presents to them with symptoms and seek to at least rule it out.