Table 2 Summary of the reported time to seek medical advice for a possible lung cancer symptom

Respiratory symptoms

Coughing up blood

Immediately

1763 (37.0)

594 (29.4)

1169 (42.6)^a

1–7 days

2695 (56.6)

1289 (63.8)

1406 (51.3)^a

 > 7 days

95 (2.0)

41 (2.0)

54 (2.0)

Never

209 (4.4)

96 (4.8)

113 (4.1)

Persistent (3 weeks or longer) chest infection

Immediately

1463 (30.7)

423 (20.9)

1040 (37.9)^a

1–7 days

2694 (56.6)

1341 (66.4)

1353 (49.3)^a

 > 7 days

399 (8.4)

175 (8.7)

224 (8.2)3

Never

206 (4.3)

81 (4.0)

125 (4.6)

A cough that does not go away for two or three weeks

Immediately

1387 (29.1)

403 (20.0)

984 (35.9)^a

1–7 days

2550 (53.5)

1266 (62.7)

1284 (46.8)^a

 > 7 days

365 (7.7)

158 (7.8)

207 (7.5)

Never

460 (9.7)

193 (9.5)

267 (9.8)

Persistent shortness of breath

Immediately

1133 (23.8)

460 (22.8)

673 (24.5)

1–7 days

3127 (65.7)

1370 (67.8)

1757 (64.1)^a

 > 7 days

226 (4.7)

84 (4.2)

142 (5.2)

Never

276 (5.8)

106 (5.2)

170 (6.2)

Persistent chest pain

Immediately

1093 (22.9)

380 (18.8)

713 (26.0)^a

1–7 days

3165 (66.5)

1432 (70.9)

1733 (63.2)^a

 > 7 days

284 (6.0)

119 (5.9)

165 (6.0)

Never

220 (4.6)

89 (4.4)

131 (4.8)

Worsening or change in an existing cough

Immediately

1084 (22.8)

446 (22.0)

638 (23.3)

1–7 days

3144 (66.0)

1354 (67.0)

1790 (65.3)

 > 7 days

261 (5.5)

88 (4.4)

173 (6.3)^a

Never

273 (5.7)

132 (6.6)

141 (5.1)

An ache or pain when breathing

Immediately

1048 (22.0)

419 (20.7)

629 (22.9)

1–7 days

3242 (68.1)

1406 (69.6)

1836 (67.0)

 > 7 days

182 (3.8)

66 (3.3)

116 (4.2)

Never

290 (6.1)

129 (6.4)

161 (5.9)

Developing an unexplained loud, high-pitched sound when breathing

Immediately

866 (18.2)

336 (16.6)

530 (19.3)

1–7 days

2916 (61.2)

1326 (65.6)

1590 (58.0)^a

 > 7 days

251 (5.3)

84 (4.2)

167 (6.1)^a

Never

729 (15.3)

274 (13.6)

455 (16.6)^a

Painful cough

Immediately

719 (15.0)

264 (13.1)

455 (16.6)^a

1–7 days

3234 (68.0)

1386 (68.6)

1848 (67.4)

 > 7 days

270 (5.7)

108 (5.3)

162 (5.9)

Never

539 (11.3)

262 (13.0)

277 (10.1)^a

Non-respiratory symptoms

Changes in the shape of fingers or nail

Immediately

656 (13.8)

251 (12.4)

405 (14.8)

1–7 days

1937 (40.7)

860 (42.6)

1077 (39.2)

 > 7 days

528 (11.0)

254 (12.6)

274 (10.0)^a

Never

1641 (34.5)

655 (32.4)

986 (36.0)^a

Unexplained weight loss

Immediately

576 (12.0)

168 (8.3)

408 (14.9)^a

1–7 days

1641 (34.5)

633 (31.3)

1008 (36.8)^a

 > 7 days

1126 (23.7)

617 (30.5)

509 (18.5)^a

Never

1419 (29.8)

602 (29.9)

817 (29.8)

Persistent tiredness or lack of energy

Immediately

383 (8.0)

177 (8.8)

206 (7.5)

1–7 days

2356 (49.5)

972 (48.1)

1384 (50.5)

 > 7 days

596 (12.5)

307 (15.2)

289 (10.5)^a

Never

1427 (30.0)

564 (27.9)

863 (31.5)^a

Persistent shoulder pain

Immediately

363 (7.6)

154 (7.6)

209 (7.6)

1–7 days

2354 (49.4)

940 (46.5)

1414 (51.6)^a

 > 7 days

480 (10.1)

214 (10.6)

266 (9.7)

Never

1565 (32.9)

712 (35.3)

853 (31.1)^a

Unexplained loss of appetite

Immediately

202 (4.2)

102 (5.0)

100 (3.6)

1–7 days

1579 (33.2)

667 (33.0)

912 (33.3)

 > 7 days

672 (14.1)

312 (15.5)

360 (13.1)

Never

2309 (48.5)

939 (46.5)

1370 (50.0)