Spain’s leading lung-cancer patient association has launched a new awareness campaign to mark International Lung Cancer Day, held every year on November 17.
The initiative – titled ‘Detect the Signs’ – has been created by the Spanish Association for People Affected by Lung Cancer (AEACaP) to improve public understanding of the disease and encourage earlier recognition of symptoms, which can significantly improve treatment outcomes.
According to a report by AEACaP and the Fundación Más que Ideas, three in four patients surveyed had been unable to recognise the early warning signs before their diagnosis.
A growing number of younger patients
Specialists warn that lung cancer is increasingly being detected in people under 50, in a trend seen in Spain and across Europe.
While the disease continues to be most common among older adults, clinicians report a gradual rise in diagnoses among younger patients who often do not consider themselves at risk.
This shift, they say, makes public awareness of early symptoms even more crucial.
The symptoms people often miss
The most frequently reported symptoms before diagnosis include:
- Persistent cough (25.5%)
- Tiredness or weakness (19.8%)
- Chest pain (19.8%)
- Difficulty breathing (13.2%)
- Unexplained weight loss (10.8%)
Because these symptoms can be mistaken for minor or common conditions, around a third of patients wait more than a month before seeing a doctor, delaying treatment and reducing the chances of success.
AEACaP president Bernard Gaspar said in a statement that the aim is not to create unnecessary alarm, but to ensure the public is better informed about early indicators of lung cancer, regardless of smoking history.
He stressed that recurring or persistent symptoms should prompt a medical check-up. Most cases will have a benign explanation, he noted, but early action is vital when the cause is serious.
AEACaP spokesperson Stephanie Oyonarte Da Rocha described how several small changes – including discomfort in her fingers, joint pain and a lingering back pain – eventually made her suspect something was wrong, even though she did not initially consider lung cancer a possibility.
Another patient, Ángeles Marín, said she had also experienced red-flag symptoms such as persistent coughing, back pain and weight loss.
However, she attributed them to pre-existing conditions including asthma, a spinal problem and a strict diet she was following. She later learned the symptoms were unrelated and, in hindsight, should have alerted her sooner.
