A screening can help detect lung cancer early.
¿Es o ha sido fumador?
El cáncer de pulmón es el cáncer de diagnóstico más frecuente en los EE. UU. y Delaware. Fumar es el principal factor de riesgo del cáncer de pulmón. En los Estados Unidos, fumar cigarrillos se correlaciona con alrededor del 85 y el 90 por ciento de los cánceres de pulmón.
Hasta ahora, no había manera de detectar el cáncer de pulmón hasta las últimas etapas. Se aprobó el uso de un examen de detección conocido como "tomografía computarizada de baja dosis" para ayudar a detectar el cáncer de pulmón en un estadio temprano, que es cuando tiene mayores probabilidades de tratarse. Estudios demuestran que esta forma de examen de detección puede reducir un 20 por ciento el riesgo de muerte por cáncer de pulmón.
You should be screened for lung cancer if you:
- fuma o ha fumado un paquete de cigarrillos al día durante 20 años o más, o dos paquetes al día durante 10 años o más.
- Currently smoke or quit smoking within the last 15 years
- tiene 50 a 80 años de edad.
A free lung cancer screening could be available to you if you don’t have insurance. If you think you may be eligible, talk with your health care provider or contact a nurse navigator who can help schedule a lung cancer screening for you. Complete this form to request a callback from a nurse navigator, or call 302-401-4212 to speak with someone directly for scheduling.
Remember, smoking harms nearly every organ in the body and damages your overall health. Regardless of age, smokers can greatly reduce their risk of disease, including lung cancer, by quitting. If you or someone you love is a smoker, we can help. We understand that everyone is different and requires different resources. The Delaware Quitline is here to help with these three free ways to quit.
What about cancers that cannot be screened for?
Mammograms can detect breast cancer, but some cancers cannot be screened for. Therefore, it is important to recognize if you are experiencing persistent symptoms of any kind and understand they shouldn’t be ignored. Cancers such as bladder, kidney, uterine, pancreatic, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can disguise themselves as something else. If you’re experiencing blood in your urine, excessive fatigue, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, or chronic pelvic pain, talk to your health care provider today. It might not be anything serious, but it could also be something very serious. Take another look. Know the signs of other cancers.
What can you do to reduce your risk?
Being physically active can reduce your risk of developing cancer and other chronic diseases. Get out and get active. Make plans to visit one of Delaware’s parks this month. Whether it’s walking along the trail, having a catch on the field, or swinging on the playground, there’s something for everyone at Banning Park in Wilmington. Not in the area? Find a park or trail near you.
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month.
We want to make sure you protect your skin and stay sun-safe all year long by applying sunscreen SPF 30 or above each time you go outdoors. Get tips now on how to reduce your risk of skin cancer and what skin cancer looks like.
