Lung Cancer Awareness and Prevention
Did you know lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women? According to the American Cancer Society (2024), lung cancer accounts for almost 25% of cancer deaths, and each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined.
¿Qué es el cáncer de pulmón?
Lung cancer occurs when cells in the lungs begin to change and grow out of control. There are two types of lung cancer — small cell and non-small cell. Although it begins in the lungs, lung cancer can spread to other parts of the body. In many cases, lung cancer has no symptoms until it is in an advanced stage, when it is difficult to treat.
Who Can Get Lung Cancer?
While people who have never smoked can get lung cancer, smoking is still the leading risk factor. Even smoking occasionally increases the risk of getting it. Cigarette smoking is linked to about 90% of lung cancer deaths (CDC, 2024). Cigars, pipes, vaping, and even e-cigarette use have been linked to an increase in lung cancer, as well as exposure to secondhand smoke. Si fuma o usa productos de tabaco, dejar el hábito puede reducir en gran medida su riesgo de padecer cáncer de pulmón.
Symptoms of Lung Cancer
En la mayoría de los casos, el cáncer de pulmón no tiene síntomas hasta la etapa en que representa un peligro para la vida. But there are some symptoms you can be on the lookout for, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- Coughing that gets worse or doesn’t go away
- Chest pain
- Dificultad respiratoria
- Wheezing
- Coughing up blood
- Feeling very tired all the time
- Weight loss with no known cause.
Prevención
The single most important thing you can do to prevent lung cancer is to not start smoking or quit if you are smoking. Here are other steps you can take:
- Stop using all tobacco products.
- Evite el tabaquismo pasivo.
- Evite la exposición al asbesto, la pintura, el gas mostaza y otros químicos.
- Prevent exposure to radon gas and/or air pollution.
- Informe a su profesional de salud si tiene antecedentes familiares de cáncer de pulmón.
- Informe a su profesional de salud si tiene antecedentes personales de tuberculosis.
- Get screened if you are eligible.
Exámenes de detección
La detección temprana a través de un examen de detección de cáncer de pulmón puede proteger su salud, y posiblemente, salvar su vida. Called a low-dose CT scan, this form of screening can detect lung cancer at an early stage, when it’s most treatable, reducing the risk of dying of lung cancer by 20%.
You should be screened for lung cancer if you:
- Are age 50 to 80;
- Currently smoke or have quit within the last 15 years; and
- Have smoked 20 pack years or more. (Pack years are calculated by multiplying the number of cigarettes you smoked per day by the number of years you smoked.)
With the Lung Cancer Eligibility Tool you can find out if you should get a lung cancer screening. Be sure to talk with your health care provider to learn if a lung cancer screening is right for you. If you don’t have a primary care doctor and regardless if you have health insurance or not, a nurse navigator can help schedule a screening. A free lung cancer screening could be available through Screening for Life.
Commit to Quit
On a positive note, the number of new lung cancer cases continues to decrease, partly because more people are quitting smoking (or not starting). The number of deaths from lung cancer continues to drop as well, due to fewer people smoking and advances in early detection and treatment.
Quitting smoking is hard. Getting help is easy. In Delaware, there are three ways to get the counseling help you need, free of charge: by phone, in person, or online. Todos los programas ofrecen apoyo de seguimiento. To get started, call 1-866-409-1858 or visit the Delaware Quitline website.
