Lung Cancer Awareness

November 14, 2017 4:00 pm Published by

According to the CDC, lung cancer is the leading cause of death and the second most common cancer in men and women in the US. Non-small cell, small cell and lung carcinoid tumor are the three main types of lung cancer. Knowing which type of lung cancer you have will determine which type of treatment plan is best for you.

Lung Cancer Awareness

If you are looking to take preventative measures to avoid lung cancer, follow these best practices to be lung cancer-free:

  • Quit Smoking! The most important thing to do is quit smoking or avoid picking up the habit. If you need help quitting, visit smokefree.gov or call 1 (800) QUIT-NOW.
  • Avoid Secondhand Smoke – Surrounding yourself with cigarette smoke and other tobacco product’s smoke is secondhand smoke. Try your best to avoid environments that would expose you to secondhand smoke.
  • Get your home tested for radon – Did you know the second leading cause of lung cancer is radon? Radon is a natural gas that comes from rocks and dirt that can get trapped in houses and buildings.

Lung Cancer Facts:

  • About 200,000 people in the US have lung cancer and more than 150,000 die from lung cancer annually.
  • Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer in the world with 1.8 million new cases in 2012.
  • 80-90% of lung cancers are associated with cigarette smoking.
  • Smoking can cause cancer anywhere in the body including in the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, colon-rectum, liver, pancreas, voicebox, trachea, bronchus, kidney and renal pelvis, urinary bladder and cervix.
  • The lung cancer five-year survival rate is 17.7%

Why it’s important to take preventative measures

With a low survival rate compared with other types of cancers, it is important to take preventative measures. If you are an individual that is at high risk (8.6 million Americans) for lung cancer, it is important to see your doctor for a screening. With earlier detection, you have the potential to drastically improve your lung cancer survival rates.

According to lung.org a 2011 study found that screen high-risk individuals with low-dose CT scans could reduce lung cancer mortality by 20% compared to chest x-ray. It is recommended that these Americans receive an annual low-dose CT scan.

Consult with your doctor to see if lung cancer screening is right for you.

This post was written by Magnolia Regional Health Center