Football legend in TV cancer advert

Sir Alex Ferguson has featured in an advertising campaign aimed at urging people who have had a persistent cough for more than three weeks to see their doctor.

The football legend, who lost his parents to lung cancer, appeared on TV screens last night as part of a new initiative launched by the Scottish Government’s Detect Cancer Early (DCE) Programme.

Statistics show since the launch of the DCE Programme, the percentage of patients diagnosed with the earliest stage of lung cancer in Scotland has increased by 39.2 per cent, and by more among those living in the most deprived areas (43.3 per cent).

The survival rate for those diagnosed at an early stage is almost 20 times higher than for those diagnosed at late stage. This means due to advances in treatments and increased rates of early detection, more people than ever in Scotland are surviving lung cancer.

The advertisment highlights the importance of people seeing their GP.

Sir Alex said: “If you’re worried about yourself or a loved one because of a persistent cough lasting three weeks or more then don’t delay in making a GP appointment.

“If it’s found early then there is a lot that can be done to treat lung cancer.”