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November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month – Are You at Risk?

Promoting Optimal Wellness for Body, Mind and Spirit

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month – Here are Some Facts:

  • Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death
  • Lung cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in both men and women
  • More people die each year from lung cancer than breast, colon and prostate cancer combined
  • Smoking is the # 1 Risk for Lung Cancer (80%–90% of lung cancers are attributed to cigarette smoking!)
  • Non-smokers can get lung cancer too!

Risk Factors for Lung Cancer –

  • Smoking Cigarettes
  • Second Hand-Smoke
  • Radon (2nd leading cause of lung cancer.)
  • Other Chemicals (asbestos, arsenic, diesel, exhaust, nickel, tar, soot, some forms of silica and chromium.)
  • Personal or Family History of Lung Cancer
  • HIV infection
  • Radiation Therapy to the Chest
  • Beta-carotene supplements.
  • Arsenic in drinking water (primarily from private wells) can increase the risk of lung cancer. For more information, visit the EPA’s Arsenic in Drinking Water.

How to Prevent Lung Cancer – For information visit Lung Cancer Prevention.

Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment Saves Lives!

Here is a Cancer Survivor’s Story – http://www.lungcancer.org/find_support/stories/23

Free Lung Cancer CT Screening – At Lahey Burlington and Peabody. Call 855.CT.CHEST to find out if you qualify or log onto = http://www.lahey.org/lungscreening/

On Hope by Emily Dickinson

Sources of Information and to Find Out More –

Do You Smoke Cigarettes …? NOW is the Time to STOP!!

Talk to you doctor about risks of lung cancer, prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

STOP the MADNESS. STOP SMOKING.

STOP the MADNESS. STOP SMOKING.

Contact us for more information on how to make stopping smoking easier. You’ll be glad you did!

Stay Tuned for More on Smoking Cessation and Tobacco Treatment in Upcoming Blog Posts.

Stay Healthy and Be Well,   Karen

Karen Pischke B.S.N., R.N., C.C.R.N. Alumnus. Certified Hypnotherapist, Tobacco Treatment Specialist, Usui Reiki Teacher/Komyo Shihan. Owner/Founder of Dreamtime Wellness™ Promoting Optimal Wellness for Body, Mind & Spirit www.DreamtimeWellness.com. Find us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dreamtime-Wellness-/348619611849199

Disclaimer: This blog pro­vides gen­eral infor­ma­tion and dis­cus­sion about health and related sub­jects. The words and other con­tent pro­vided in this blog, and in any linked mate­ri­als, are not intended and should not be con­strued as med­ical advice. If the reader or any other per­son has a med­ical con­cern, he or she should con­sult with an appropriately licensed physi­cian or other health care worker. Never dis­re­gard pro­fes­sional med­ical advice or delay in seek­ing it because of some­thing you have read on this blog or in any linked materials. If you think you may have a med­ical emer­gency, call your doc­tor or 911 immediately. The views expressed on this blog and web­site have no rela­tion to those of any academic, hospital, practice or other insti­tu­tion with which the authors are affiliated.

 

4 thoughts on “November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month – Are You at Risk?”

  2. I am a 7 1/2 year lung cancer survivor – a non-smoker. I have a blog where I recently posted my article about “November is Lung Cancer Month.” I am trying to raise awareness about the rising numbers of people (mostly young women) who never smoked and who are getting diagnosed with advanced lung cancer.
    Your statistics perpetuate the confusion about the causes of lung cancer. I have consistently read that only 30% of smokers get lung cancer; that is a high statistic. However, I’ve read that between 15%-40% of people who never smoked get lung cancer. What is that cause?? Lung cancer is the NUMBER ONE cancer killer – more than breast, prostate, colon cancers COMBINED, yet it gets the least amount of funding…Why? because we believe we know the cause: smoking, asbestos….your list (lung cancer is not genetically inherited either). This belief fosters complacency: I won’t get lung cancer if I am not exposed to anything on your list. People need to take more responsibility to prevent this deadly disease. I hope you will help me get this message out.

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    • Hi Laurie.

      I replied to your comment when this blog was re-posted in GMG, but not sure you saw it so I am replying here as well.

      First of all, thank you for your comments. I am very happy to hear you are a SURVIVOR and THRIVING!

      I applaud your wanting to raise awareness to the fact that non-smokers also get lung cancer (as I mentioned in my post) and that you bring to light the ‘disproportion’ of cancer research funding. It would seem that with “Lung cancer being the #1 cause of cancer deaths, more that breast, colon and prostate cancer combined” (also mentioned in my post) deserves a higher proportion of money for research aimed at prevention, diagnosis and treatment. On a positive note, ‘targeted therapies’ and clinical trials that are increasing the prognosis have come from the research.I also noted in my post (and as you mention here,) “Non-smokers get lung cancer too.” You will see an upcoming post with more about this fact.

      As mentioned in my post, there are a variety of risk factors, including ‘gene mutation’ which results from the toxins found in cigarettes as well as other chemicals people may (knowingly or unknowingly) be exposed to. http://www.cancer.org/research/acsresearchupdates/lungcancer/discovery-of-new-lung-cancer-mutations-may-mean-more-treatment-options.

      The fact remains – cigarette smoking is the #1 cause of lung cancer deaths and #1 ‘preventable’ cause of lung cancer world wide (according to the resources listed in my post – American Cancer Society, Centers for Disease Control, American Lung Association, and the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute.) The facts I found in my search of the literature stated that “tobacco use accounts for at least 30% of ALL cancer deaths, and causes 87% of lung cancer deaths in men, and 70% of lung cancer deaths in women. (Source: Cancer Facts & Figures 2014) Additional resources – http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/tobaccocancer/tobacco-related-cancer-fact-sheethttp://www.cancer.org/research/cancerfactsstatistics/index.

      Laurie, you know first-hand what it is like to go through diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, and your bringing attention to this awful disease can help many. My hope is that through education and awareness, more people at risk will be able to prevention cancer. Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment SAVE LIVES! I hope you follow the upcoming posts and add what you feel would be helpful for readers to know from the perspective of a ‘cancer survivor.’ Your story Laurie will INSPIRE and offer HOPE to many.

      If you are live in the Boston area, check out http://www.FriendsofMel.org. They are an amazing foundation helping to raise money for cancer treatment and research. They also have an annual conference geared towards cancer survivors – ‘Art of Living: Life Beyond Cancer.’ Maybe they could collaborate with you in your efforts, or you could offer a workshop to help inspire others.

      I wish you a happy, healthy holiday season and much health and happiness for many years to come. Best, Karen

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      • HI Karen….who reads this post? just you? or public reading??
        I thank you for your detailed response – so full of great information! Everyone who reads it will benefit; you are a real lung cancer advocate! I appreciate that. I’d love to meet you and collaborate….let’s get together in the new year sometime.??
        I”m trying to be a better (lung) cancer advocate as well. I recently presented a program – “From Panic to Powerful” – at the Gloucester Senior Center. Did you read about it in the “Gloucester Daily Times (last Monday)?” Many people came; obviously there is a need for a program like this. I plan to offer it again in February….and maybe once a month. I hope you’ll attend.

        Last month I was on a panel with other cancer survivors at the Mass.General Hospital’s annual Cancer Survivor Conference. Videos available, if you’d care to see them. (email me at

        I hope you’ve had a chance to see my blog: . I constantly update the Resource section – sharing books, videos, websites, TED talks, other blogs – that have helped me. I’d be happy to include your Wellness Center, if interested; send me what you’d like me to post.

        BTW I am very aware of “Friends of Mel;” I go to their conference each year; do you go?

        Let’s stay in touch.
        sincerely, Laurie

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