Why regional GPs may see more lung cancer symptoms

The ‘It is time to act’ campaign has been launched in response to the disparity in lung cancer survival rates between Perth and country areas in the hope of improving outcomes in regional communities.

Cancer Council WA chief executive Ashley Reid said while lung cancer survival rates have improved in Perth, regional WA had not seen the same level of progress.

“WA Cancer Registry data shows that during 2018–2022, the five-year survival rate for lung cancer was almost 24% for people living in regional WA, compared with 35% for people living in metropolitan WA,” he said.

The campaign is part of Cancer Council’s Find Cancer Early initiative.

“Among the most common cancers that the Find Cancer Early campaign focuses on, lung cancer shows the largest metropolitan–regional survival difference,” Mr Reid said.

“By improving knowledge of symptoms, we can help regional West Australians give themselves the best possible chance of surviving lung cancer.”

While there are a number of symptoms linked to lung cancer, the campaign focused on coughing and trouble breathing.

Those with a cough or trouble breathing that lasts for at least four weeks, or anyone who coughs up blood, are urged to see a doctor, clinic nurse or Aboriginal health worker.

The campaign launched in August and will run until June 2027 across television and online channels.

Across Australia, the National Lung Cancer Screening Program introduced in 2025 has helped detect lung cancer sooner, having screened more than 100,000 people so far.

Free screening is done using low-dose CT scans for those at high risk of lung cancer, including people aged 50 to 70 with a history of smoking.

Lung cancer is Australia’s leading cause of cancer death, killing an estimated 9000 people each year. Screening can detect up to 70% of lung cancers and, when found early, more than 65% can be successfully treated.