Former Welsh rugby international Jonathan Davies is an ambassador for the campaign
A pair of 12ft high inflatable mega lungs has been touring Wales to raise awareness of lung cancer.
The lungs are part of a Boehringer Ingelheim campaign, in partnership with Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation (RCLCF) and Velindre Cancer Centre, which hopes to draw attention to Wales’ biggest killing cancer.
Lung cancer survival in Wales is among the poorest in Europe – Wales ranked 28 out of 29 countries in a recently-published EUROCARE study examining European cancer survival.
Lorraine Dallas of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation said: “This campaign offers an important opportunity to improve awareness in Wales. Early diagnosis can improve treatment options and survival. We hope this campaign will be one step towards changing Wales’ record on lung cancer.”
Duncan Cantor, communications director of Boehringer Ingelheim UK and Ireland, added: “Early detection and diagnosis is vital in the treatment and management of this disease and so Boehringer Ingelheim is proud to work with Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and Velindre Cancer Care to raise awareness of its signs and symptoms.
“You can’t miss the 12ft tall Mega Lungs, which allow people to learn about their lungs, help them understand the importance of good lung health and visualise how lung disease can affect them.”
The campaign aims to educate the public on the symptoms of lung cancer. Materials prepared include a leaflet outlining the signs and symptoms of the disease, and a video. Among the facts highlighted by the video is that every week 45 families in Wales hear that a loved one has lung cancer.
Former Welsh rugby international Jonathan Davies is an ambassador for the campaign, and appeared at its September launch event in Cardiff.
The Mega Lungs tour encompassed those areas of Wales worst affected by lung cancer, including Cwmbran, Mold, Swansea, and Wrexham.