World Lung Cancer Day

LUNG FORCE is a national movement to defeat lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. In recognition of World Lung Cancer Day, the American Lung Association's LUNG FORCE initiative is urging everyone to learn about risk factors for the disease and highlighting the importance of early detection through lung cancer screening.

In support of LUNG FORCE's efforts to defeat lung cancer, you can take the following important actions:

1. Review the risk factors for lung cancer: It's important to remember that anyone can get lung cancer. The best way to reduce your risk for the disease is to take steps to avoid exposure to the dangerous substances most likely to cause it. Risk factors for lung cancer include smoking, exposure to radon gas, air pollution and secondhand smoke.
   
   
2. Learn about lung cancer screening: A new screening, a low-dose CT scan, is now recommended for individuals at high risk for lung cancer and has the potential to dramatically improve lung cancer survival rates. A person is considered high risk if they are between 50–80 years old, have a 20 pack-year history of smoking (this means 1 pack a day for 20 years, 2 packs a day for 10 years, etc.), and are a current smoker or have quit within the last 15 years. If the estimated 14 million Americans at high risk for lung cancer were to be screened, about 48,000 lives could be saved.
   
   To learn more, the American Lung Association offers a lung cancer screening eligibility quiz and encourages those concerned about their risk to speak with their doctor.
   
   
3. Join the fight against lung cancer

   Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer in the U.S. It is time to change this statistic by taking action. You can make a difference by contacting your elected officials in Congress and urging them to support more research for and efforts to protect people from lung cancer. Join LUNG FORCE today!