5 Key Facts on Lung Cancer—and How Screening Can Save Lives
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month—a time to understand more about the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. Here are five critical things you should know about lung cancer and screening:
5 Things to Know:
Prevalence: Over 234,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year alone.
Leading Causes: Cigarette smoking and secondhand smoke cause 9 out of 10 lung cancer cases.Firefighters and emergency responders exposed to smoke on the job face increased risk.
Screening Saves Lives: Many lung cancer deaths could be prevented with regular annual screenings for eligible individuals.
Who Should Get Screened: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual screenings for those aged 50–80 with a 20-pack-year smoking history who currently smoke or have quit within the last 15 years.
How It’s Done: The Low Dose Computed Tomography (LDCT) scan takes just a few minutes and can detect lung cancer early, when it’s most treatable.
There is Hope:
Lung cancer cases are declining, thanks in large part to reduced smoking rates, improved screening and groundbreaking treatments.
Together, we’re helping patients live longer and better lives. In partnership with MultiCare Institute for Research & Innovation and with your support, we’ve enrolled three local patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the SWOG 2302 Pragmatica-Lung trial, bringing innovative treatment options directly to members of our community.
Learn more about the study: Pragmatica-Lung Trial
Think you may qualify for screening? Check here: Lung Cancer Screening Info
