General practitioner examinations and investigations should include:

• thorough medical history
• urgent chest x-ray for unexplained, persistent symptoms and signs (lasting more than three weeks, or earlier in patients with known risk factors or with more than one symptom or sign – if the chest x-ray is normal and symptoms persist, repeat the chest x-ray at six weeks)
• chest CT scan – this should be offered if there is a strong clinical suspicion of lung cancer, persistent or unexplained haemoptysis, signs of superior vena caval obstruction or imaging findings suggest lung cancer. Complete within two weeks of the patient presenting with symptoms. The CT scan should be delivered with contrast unless contraindicated. Concurrently, refer the patient to a specialist linked to a lung cancer multidisciplinary team (consider immediate telephone contact) (Cancer Australia 2020b).