Show Your Support for the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation This November

Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation is the only UK charity solely dedicated to supporting everyone affected with lung cancer. For the last 30 years, they have been funding vital research, raising awareness and supporting the 46,000 people diagnosed with the disease every year.

The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic

During the pandemic, demand for the charity’s support services have increased significantly, with calls up 93% compared to the previous year. If they contract Covid-19, people with lung cancer are among the most vulnerable. Understandably, this has caused a great deal of uncertainty and anxiety, with some patients even having their treatment paused during the peak of the pandemic. Lung cancer nurse specialists were also drafted in to help on the frontline, meaning they weren’t as readily available to answer patient questions or provide much-needed support. Fortunately, the charity is here to bridge this gap and ensure those with lung cancer have the practical, emotional and financial support they need.

The charity has also continued to raise awareness of the disease at a time when a cough, one of lung cancer’s most common symptoms, is now so readily associated with Covid. During the peak of the pandemic, cancer referral rates plummeted by up to 84% as people followed the Government’s “stay at home” messages and avoided visiting their doctor, even if they felt unwell. As a result, thousands of people will miss out on an earlier and potentially life-saving diagnosis.

Lung cancer is an aggressive disease which already kills more people than breast, prostate and pancreatic cancers combined. It will not wait for the pandemic to be over. It will continue to take our husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, children, siblings, friends and colleagues. The charity’s latest campaign – Still Here – encourages and reassures those with symptoms to contact their GP to prevent even more lives from being lost.

In August 2018, Roy Castle were the winners of our charity poll, winning a donation of £161.13. You can support them again this November 2020 by casting your vote today!

If you want to find out more about Roy Castle, visit their website: https://www.roycastle.org.