A cough lasting more than 3 weeks, blood-streaked sputum, unexplained weight loss, persistent chest pain, recurrent chest infections, hoarse voice or progressive breathlessness - any of these in a smoker over 40 warrants an urgent low-dose CT scan.
The signs
1) A cough that does not settle for 3 weeks. 2) Coughing up blood or blood-stained sputum. 3) Unexplained weight loss. 4) Persistent chest pain, especially with deep breathing. 5) Recurrent chest infections or pneumonia in the same spot. 6) A hoarse voice that does not settle. 7) Breathlessness that slowly worsens.
Why early detection matters
Lung cancer detected at Stage I has a 5-year survival above 70%. At Stage IV it falls below 10%. Finding the disease while it is still confined to a single lobe is what separates curable from advanced disease.
Screening
High-risk patients - a smoking history, occupational exposure or a family history of lung cancer - benefit from an annual low-dose CT scan. This screening can shift diagnosis to earlier, curable stages long before symptoms appear.
Next steps
If imaging is suspicious, a VATS biopsy provides tissue for diagnosis and molecular profiling within days, so treatment can start without delay. Dr Ahmad Ali recommends seeing a thoracic surgeon early rather than watching and waiting.
