Box 1.

Recommendations

Finding	Recommendations
Cancer was not considered a potential explanation for chest symptoms.	•Alert people with COPD to risk of lung cancer. •Alert people with COPD to consult with changes in symptoms. •Encourage relevant charities/support groups to include information about lung cancer risk in communications.
Family or friends noticed changes in symptoms and encourage help seeking.	•Provide information aimed at empowering patients and family members to speak about symptoms and take action. •Encourage family members to attend consultations.
People felt isolated by their COPD.	•Encourage patient engagement with COPD services such as pulmonary rehabilitation programmes or other well‐being/exercise classes to gain social support from others with COPD.
Participants visited health professionals frequently, but lung cancer risk was not discussed.	•Alert health professionals to be vigilant to lung cancer risk in COPD patients. •Move away from a “disease silo” approach. Consultations could include the question from the health professional, “is there anything else?” This recommendation is transferable to other patient groups with pre‐existing conditions at risk of developing cancer.

COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.