A Tower Hamlets consultant is supporting Lung Cancer Awareness Month by urging residents to make sure they know how to recognise the early warning signs of Britain’s biggest cancer killer.

Consultant respiratory physician Dr Lieske Kuitert, who practices at BMI The London Independent Hospital in Stepney Green, said lung cancer is biggest killer among all age groups and is responsible for 35,000 deaths each year.

But she believes most people aren’t aware of common symptoms, such as a cough that lasts for more than three weeks, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, chest pains and infections, and unexplained weight loss or fatigue.

She added: “It is a well-known fact that cigarette smoke is the main cause of most lung cancers, yet one in five British adults still smoke on a regular basis.

“I hope that during November, the risks associated with smoking and the common symptoms of lung cancer become etched into people’s minds. This dual focus will prevent future cases of the disease and help patients get diagnosed earlier.”

Lung Cancer Awareness Month is also supported by the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, a charity set up in memory of TV presenter Roy Castle who died from the disease. For more information about symptoms or the awareness campaign, visit www.roycastle.org.