November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and health leaders across the region are encouraging residents to learn the signs and take advantage of life-saving screening options. Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the U.S., but early detection can make all the difference.
Lung cancer often shows few or no symptoms until it has advanced, which is why screening is critical. When caught early, treatment is significantly more effective — and screening is safe, quick, painless, and covered by most insurance plans.
So, who should get screened?
Health experts recommend lung cancer screening if you answer YES to all three of the following:
- Are you 50 to 80 years old?
- Do you currently smoke, or did you quit within the last 15 years?
- Do you have a 20+ pack-year history of smoking? (That means one pack a day for 20 years, or two packs a day for 10 years.)
Every 2.3 minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with lung cancer — but early detection through screening can save lives.
Local health professionals encourage residents to talk with their healthcare provider about risk factors, screening options, and steps to protect lung health.
The message for Lung Cancer Awareness Month is simple: Know the symptoms. Get screened. Early detection is everything.
