People who suffer from ongoing back pain are being urged to take their symptoms seriously (Image: Getty)
People who suffer from ongoing back pain, fatigue or a cough are being urged to take their symptoms seriously as health experts warn they could be early signs of lung cancer. The warning comes as Boots launches a nationwide campaign to help shoppers recognise subtle symptoms of the disease, which often go unnoticed for months.
Lung cancer remains one of the most common cancers in the UK, affecting around 49,000 people every year. Many develop symptoms slowly and continue treating themselves at home with cough medicines, cold and flu tablets or painkillers without realising they could be signs of something more serious.
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Back pain, a lingering cough, breathlessness and fatigue are among lung cancer symptoms (Image: Getty)
Boots is now rolling out new health information across its 1,800 stores to encourage customers to think twice about persistent symptoms.
The materials will appear beside everyday medicines, aiming to prompt people to seek help sooner if something doesn’t feel right.
Consultation rooms in stores will also display additional information to support conversations with pharmacists.
The campaign is being led by lung cancer advocate Jules Fielder, who came up with the idea while undergoing her own treatment.
Her push for better awareness has gained support from Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Hastings MP Helena Dollimore.
Ms Fielder, who has been open about her own diagnosis and the challenges she faced, said too many people still misunderstand the disease.
She warned: “There is a huge stigma attached to lung cancer, and I believe it has made awareness of the signs and symptoms, especially for women and non-smokers like me, far too low.”
She developed the idea for the initiative during long treatment sessions, convinced that clearer information could help save lives.
She added: “A precedent has been set, and I hope more pharmacies follow as we continue to challenge that stigma.
“All you need for lung cancer is that it can happen to anyone, so signposting in shops like this will save lives.”
More than 4,500 Boots staff members have already completed Macmillan Cancer Support training so they can help customers discuss symptoms, understand treatment side effects and access support.
The training builds on a long-running partnership between Boots and Macmillan stretching back 17 years.
Lung cancer remains one of the most common cancers in the UK (Image: Getty)
Mr Streeting, who has previously spoken about his own cancer battle and the loss of his grandmother to lung cancer, said Ms Fielder’s determination had a deep impact on him.
“When I met Jules for the first time, I was struck by her determination,” he said. “Jules’ story shocked me – she’s my age, she’s never smoked, and she was challenging stereotypes I didn’t even realise I held.”
He described the new campaign as “a testament to her strength” and said improving early detection remains central to the Government’s National Cancer Plan.
Mr Streeting also pointed to progress on waiting times, with 213,000 more patients now being diagnosed or having cancer ruled out quickly compared with before July 2024.
Back pain, a lingering cough, breathlessness and fatigue are among the symptoms Fielder hopes people will no longer ignore.
She says the goal is to make sure fewer people delay seeking help before it’s too late.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
