November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Lung cancer is a form of carcinoma which originates in the lungs.  According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more people die from lung cancer than any other type of cancer. Exposure to cigarette smoke and a family history of lung cancer are risk factors that can increase one’s chances of lung cancer.  The best offense is a good defense, and preventative measures are very important ways to reduce risk of developing lung cancer.

The CDC definitively states, “The most important thing a person can do to prevent lung cancer is to not start smoking or to quit if he or she currently smokes.”  (This probably holds true for a variety of cancers, since smoking can cause cancer almost anywhere in the body: mouth, nose, throat, larynx, esophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas, cervix, stomach, and bone marrow.) 

In the U.S., cigarette smoking causes about 90% of lung cancers (CDC, 2013).   Smokers and non-smokers alike can benefit from avoiding exposure.  Quitting smoking will lower the risk of lung cancer no matter how old a person is or how long a person has smoked. Additionally, secondhand smoke causes lung cancer in adults who themselves have never smoked.  Every year, 3,400 non-smoking Americans die from lung cancer (CDC, 2013). For non-smokers, preventative measures should focus on common exposure sites like shopping patios or apartment complexes, where people spend the majority of their time and are likely to encounter sidestream cigarette smoke from neighboring parties.

Orange County residents can utilize the 1-866-NEW-LUNG quitline for free quitting assistance.  To receive additional information about quitting smoking or protecting the health of your lungs, contact NCADD-OC at jmonji@canoc.org.