Lung Cancer Europe shared on LinkedIn:
“A suspicion of lung cancer warrants timely diagnostics.
Professor Gregor Kocher, Thoracic Surgeon, on what should happen once lung cancer is suspected.
For many people, the route to a lung cancer diagnosis starts in primary care, often with symptoms that are vague, slow to develop or easy to put down to something else.
When a suspicion does arise, perhaps from a chest X-ray or symptoms that won’t settle, what follows can be a series of tests: CT and PET-CT scans, biopsies and specialist appointments, often in different places and on different days.
Delays can happen at any point along that pathway. And for the person waiting, uncertainty can be one of the hardest parts.
People affected by lung cancer are clear about what would help. In Lung Cancer Europe’s 7th Report, more than 8 in 10 people who took part selected fast-track services that reduce waiting times as a way to improve the diagnostic process.
In our 9th Report, 17% said they received little or no information about what would happen next during diagnosis.
Timely diagnostics and clear communication go hand in hand. Getting answers quickly can open up more treatment options. Knowing what is happening, and why, helps people through one of the most uncertain times of their lives.
That’s why Get Checked! 2026 looks at both sides of the diagnostic pathway: the people living it, and the healthcare professionals working to get them answers.
Lung cancer. Two sides to every diagnosis.
Explore the campaign and our guide to lung cancer tests.”
Lung Cancer Europe (LuCE) is a network of lung cancer patient organisations across Europe. It works to give patients a stronger voice, raise awareness about the disease and push for better diagnosis, treatment and support. Get Checked! is an awareness campaign run by Lung Cancer Europe. It encourages people to recognise the signs of lung cancer and seek medical advice early. Each year, the campaign focuses on a different part of the lung cancer journey, sharing information and real experiences from patients and healthcare professionals.
Gregor Kocher is a Swiss thoracic surgeon specialising in lung cancer surgery and minimally invasive surgical techniques. He is Head of Thoracic Surgery at St. Claraspital in Basel and an Associate Professor at the University of Bern.
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