Why lung cancer is hard to spot: GPs on both sides of the consultation

Oct 31

Get Checked! 2026 looks at lung cancer diagnosis from both sides. For most people, the first appointment is in primary care, with a GP who may see only a few people with lung cancer each year among thousands of coughs, chest infections and aches that turn out to be something else.

GPs Talk Cancer is a podcast from GatewayC, part of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, made to support earlier cancer diagnosis in primary care. It is hosted by two GPs. Dr Sarah Taylor is a GP in Manchester, a GP Lead for GatewayC and Associate Medical Director for Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance. Dr Rebecca Leon is a GP partner in East Cheshire and a GP Lead for GatewayC and The Christie School of Oncology. They have kindly let us share their words alongside the stories of people living with lung cancer.

Why lung cancer can be hard to spot in primary care

There are very few nerves inside the lungs, so early lung cancer often can't be felt. When symptoms do appear, they are often vague and easy to explain away: a cough that lingers, breathlessness on the stairs, tiredness, or pain in the chest, shoulder or back. A chest X-ray is a useful first test, but it can't always rule lung cancer out.

“It’s that change, isn’t it? Somebody who could run 10K, who’s now saying they’re struggling with five.”

— Dr Rebecca Leon, GP and co-host of GPs Talk Cancer

Campaign posts from Oonagh, who had no lung symptoms, and Ernst, whose first sign of lung cancer was pain under his shoulder

Lung cancer can affect anyone with lungs

The GPs talk openly about the old picture of who gets lung cancer, and why it no longer fits. Lung cancer is diagnosed in people who are young, fit and active, and in people who have never smoked. When someone doesn't match the picture, it is easy for them and their GP to look for another explanation first.

“If you’ve got lungs, you can get lung cancer.”

— Dr Sarah Taylor, GP and co-host of GPs Talk Cancer

“When we used to think about lung cancer, we had a picture in our head of the type of patient who was likely to get lung cancer.”

— Dr Rebecca Leon, GP and co-host of GPs Talk Cancer

Campaign posts from Rasika, diagnosed with lung cancer at 26, and Suvi, who could no longer breathe before her lung cancer diagnosis

“I sort of thought, oh, well, they’ve never smoked, so they’re probably okay. And that’s just not the case.”

— Dr Sarah Taylor, GP and co-host of GPs Talk Cancer

Going back to your GP when lung cancer symptoms don't settle

GPs often agree a plan with you: if a symptom hasn't improved by a certain time, come back. This is called safety netting. If a test result is normal but you still feel unwell, going back is the right thing to do. When the same symptoms return again and again without a clear reason, the GPs say that is the moment to think about referring on.

“If you’ve got somebody who comes back with the same symptoms three times and you haven’t got a really clear reason for it, you need to think about referring them on.”

— Dr Sarah Taylor, GP and co-host of GPs Talk Cancer

Campaign posts from Émilie, who saw at least nine doctors, and Frances, whose allergy medicine wasn't working, before their lung cancer diagnoses

“If I text somebody to say that their chest X-ray is normal, I also add on: if your symptoms haven’t settled, please come back and see me.”

— Dr Sarah Taylor, GP and co-host of GPs Talk Cancer

“My nose started twitching. You call it the GP gut instinct, or you call it the GP nose.”

— Dr Rebecca Leon, GP and co-host of GPs Talk Cancer

Listen to GPs Talk Cancer

The podcast is made for primary care clinicians, but many episodes, including Lung cancer: GP gut instinct, normal chest X-rays and what to do next, are clear and useful for anyone. Healthcare professionals can also find free early diagnosis learning on GatewayC.

Quotes shared with permission from GPs Talk Cancer, from GatewayC, part of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.

Listen to GPs Talk Cancer