Lung Cancer Awareness Month is observed every November to draw attention to the malignant tumor, which is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.
It is the third most common type of cancer in the U.S. Nearly 240,000 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year, according to the American Cancer Society.
“During National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, we honor the resilient people who have faced this diagnosis, the loved ones who rally to their side, and the medical professionals who do all they can to help patients survive and heal,” a White House news release read.
This year’s theme, “Education, Empowerment, and Eradication” aims to create public awareness about the importance of screening, early diagnosis and preventive measures. By investing in new, affordable ways for prevention, detection and treatment, officials aim to put an end to the deadly disease.
To promote greater awareness about lung cancer, Dr. Arjan Singh Flora, an interventional pulmonologist at Memphis VA Medical Center, Tennessee, explains some common misconceptions about the disease.
Myth #1: Lung cancer is a smoker’s disease
Fact: Non-smokers can also get lung cancer.
While smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer, nonsmokers who are exposed to carcinogens such as radon, asbestos and vinyl chloride are also at high risk.
“Around 80-90% of lung cancers are associated with a history of cigarette smoking. The other 10-20%, however, can be related to a family history of lung cancer (for example, inherited mutations) or exposures to second-hand smoke, radon gas, occupational exposures to cancer-causing agents and indoor and outdoor air pollution,” Dr. Flora said.
Myth #2: Once you smoke, there is no use quitting
Fact: It’s never too late to quit, positive results are almost immediate.
Once a person stops smoking, the body shows immediate changes. Within just 20 minutes of quitting, both blood pressure and heart rate start to decrease, and within a few days, carbon…
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