August 1, 2020 is World Lung Cancer Day!
Sponsored by the American Lung Association, LUNG FORCE is a national movement aiming to defeat the leading cause of cancer deaths among men and women: lung cancer. In recognition of World Lung Cancer Day, the LUNG FORCE initiative is spreading the word about risk factors for the disease and the importance of lung cancer screening for early detection.
You can support LUNG FORCE’s efforts and help defeat lung cancer on August 1 by:
- Reviewing the risk factors for lung cancer: It’s important to remember that anyone can get lung cancer. The best way to reduce your risk for the disease is to take steps to avoid exposure to the dangerous substances most likely to cause it. Risk factors for lung cancer include smoking, exposure to radon gas, air pollution and secondhand smoke.
- Learning about lung cancer screening: A new screening, a low-dose CT scan, is now recommended for individuals at high risk for lung cancer and has the potential to dramatically improve lung cancer survival rates. A person is considered high risk if they are between 55–80 years old, have a 30 pack-year history of smoking (this means 1 pack a day for 30 years, 2 packs a day for 15 years, etc.), and are a current smoker or have quit within the last 15 years. If the estimated 8 million Americans at high risk for lung cancer were to be screened, about 25,000 lives could be saved. To learn more, the American Lung Association offers a lung cancer screening eligibility quiz and encourages those concerned about their risk to speak with their doctor.
- Joining the fight against lung cancer: Lung cancer is the number one deadliest cancer in the U.S. It is time to change this statistic by taking action. You can make a difference by contacting your elected officials in Congress and urging them to support more research for and efforts to protect people from lung cancer. Join LUNG FORCE today!
To learn more about World Lung Cancer Day visit this webpage.
