Written by Sarah Amaral, Development Director, American Lung Association in Arizona
When most people think of lung cancer, their thoughts usually steer towards smoking and other unhealthy life choices. Most people under 40 also think that it is not something they will have to worry about for years to come.
The fact of the matter is that lung cancer has become the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in the United States and, despite its effect on our communities, its causes and true impact often remain in the shadows. Studies estimate that over 235,000 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer within the next year. And the startling fact is this statistic is not limited to the elderly, and it is NOT limited to smokers. Approximately 1/3 of those diagnosed with lung cancer have never smoked a day in their life.
Factors like secondhand smoke, vaping, radom exposure, and air pollution can all negatively impact your lungs and put you at risk for developing lung cancer. The stigma of lung cancer is that it only attacks older generations and people with a history of tobacco use. This lack of knowledge and understanding of the risks puts people of all ages and communities at risk. Most adults do not talk to their doctors about their risk for lung cancer, and few adults are even concerned that they may get the disease.
The good news is that, when detected early, lung cancer is treatable. The survival rate has increased over 30% in the past ten years! Healthy life choices, along with advocating for your health and accessing low dose lung cancer screening are imperative to early detection. It is so important for everyone, but young people especially, to be aware of ALL the causes of lung cancer and know their own risk factors.
The key to continuing the fight against lung cancer is increasing awareness, funding research, encouraging lung cancer screening, and reducing the stigma surrounding the disease.
Learn more and take action today!
- Visit lung.org to learn more about lung cancer and the resources available to anyone who is fighting lung disease.
- On November 15, 2022, the American Lung Association will release its annual State of Lung Cancer Report. Here you can find state-specific data and learn about key findings around lung cancer.
- If you or someone you know is fighting lung disease, share your story here to raise awareness and take action!
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