Lung Cancer Awareness Month
Pearl or white is the color of the Lung Cancer Awareness Ribbon. Be Creative this month, paint your nails white, wear a white shirt and pearls, or make and wear a ribbon for this month to help bring awareness!
What is Lung Cancer?
Lung Cancer begins in the lungs and most often occurs in people who smoke. The two major types of lung cancer are non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. Some symptoms can include cough (often with blood), chest pain, wheezing, and weight loss. These symptoms sometimes don't appear until the cancer is advanced. The treatments options may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted drug therapy, or immunotherapy.
Ways to Lower Risk
- Don’t Smoke- The most important thing you can do to prevent lung cancer is to not start smoking, or to quit if you smoke. If you need help quitting, please visit the Smokefree website.
- Stay Away from Second Hand Smoke- Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or at work increase their risk of getting lung cancer by 20-30 percent.
- Get your Home tested for Radon- Radon is thought to be the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, and thought to be responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year.
Facts
- Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death and the second most common cancer among both men and women in the United States.
- Each year, about 221,000 people in the United States are told they have lung cancer and about 146,000 people die from this disease.
- Different people have different symptoms for lung cancer, and most people with lung cancer don’t have symptoms until the cancer is advanced.
If you would like to make a donation to the American Lung Association, please visit their website.
