Lung cancer is the 2nd most common cancer in the UK and about 38,000 people will develop the condition each year. Of these, 9 out 10 will be smokers or ex-smokers.

The risk of getting lung cancer increases with age. Only about one out of every 100 people with lung cancer gets it before the age of 40 years. More than 85 out of every 100 people with lung cancer are over the age of 60.

If they are causing symptoms most lung cancers will show up on a chest x-ray. Recently, the Department of Health gave guidelines to family doctors (GPs) advising they should arrange an urgent chest x-ray for anyone who is coughing up blood (haemoptysis). The guidelines also advise an urgent chest x-ray for anyone with any of the following symptoms without any obvious cause (infection), or if they have had the symptoms for more than 3 weeks:

• a cough that does not go away or a cough that keeps coming back

• chest or shoulder pain

• difficulty in breathing

• a hoarse voice

• enlargement of the ends of the fingers (called 'clubbing')

• swelling of the lymph nodes (glands) in the neck or above the collar bone

Many of these  symptoms are common to conditions other than lung cancer. But if your father has any of these it is important to have them checked.by his GP so that further tests can be done if necessary..