Lung cancer is the most lethal cancer in the world in both men and women. Over 160,000 people die yearly in the United
States. Lung cancer is related to cigarette smoking in 80-90% of cases, although genetic and environmental risk factors play
a role as well. Although improvements have been made in treatments for advanced lung cancers, the key to significantly improving
outcomes is prevention (smoking cessation) and early detection. Unfortunately, unlike colon cancer, breast cancer, cervical
cancer, and prostate cancer, there is currently no reliable test to detect early lung cancers.
What Can I Do?
If you are a current smoker, talk to your physician and family about quitting! Although former smokers also have an elevated
risk of lung cancer, the size of this risk begins to noticeably decrease 5 years after quitting, and continues to go down
thereafter. If you need further help with quitting, you can contact us!
What Are Signs of Lung Cancer?
Although lung cancer can cause a variety of symptoms, it may also grow silently for a number of months/years. This is
why early detection is so difficult. However, you should consult your physician if you have a new cough that persists, blood
in your phlegm, unexplained weight decrease or loss of appetite, shortness of breath, or chest pains.
