Lung Cancer Awareness Month

(November 1, 2011)—

November 1, 2011
Contact: Laura Muller 
(907) 644-6416
lmuller@aklung.org   

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month
American Lung Association Aims to Raise Awareness about the
Deadliest Form of Cancer in the United States

Anchorage, AK.–This year, lung cancer will kill more Americans than any other cancer. In fact, lung cancer will claim more lives than the next four leading cancer killers -- breast, prostate, colon and pancreas cancers – combined. In an effort to educate and encourage Alaska residents about the importance of lung health, the American Lung Association in Alaska is kicking off Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality in Alaska, killing an average of 224 people per year. Lung cancer is also a highly preventable disease—90 percent of cases are caused by smoking, including cigarette, pipe and cigar smoking, and exposure to secondhand smoke. This makes lung cancer unique compared to other cancers.

Exposure to radon, asbestos and hydrocarbons also raise one’s risk of developing this type of cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.

For people who smoke, the early symptoms of lung cancer are often familiar and may include coughing, shortness of breath, weight loss, fatigue and coughing up blood. “The biggest problem is that most people are diagnosed late, because early stage symptoms are common to smokers,” said Norman H. Edelman, M.D., chief medical officer of the American Lung Association. Currently, only 15 percent of lung cancers are diagnosed in an early stage.

Another challenge is that lung cancer patients and survivors may feel stigmatized. “Unlike breast and prostate cancer, there is a significant lack of survivor advocacy,” said Renée Klein, President & CEO of the American Lung Association of the Mountain Pacific. This is due to the high mortality rate of lung cancer patients, as well as the stigma that many patients brought it upon themselves by smoking. “We need to spread the word that no matter what the cause, lung cancer patients need our support,” Klein added. 

Late diagnoses make lung cancer deadly. “Surgery is the most curable treatment for almost any cancer but few people with lung cancer come in early enough for us to do this,” explained Dr. Edelman. Most people seek treatment only after experiencing symptoms that are associated with spread of the disease, such as chest pain, weakness in a limb or bone pain. In fact, three-fourths of people with lung cancer are diagnosed with advanced forms of the disease.

Lung cancer is also complicated to treat. “Smokers, in particular, have had phenomenal exposure to carcinogens, the substances that cause mutations in cells and lead to the development of cancer,” Dr. Edelman stated. This makes the disease harder to treat and more deadly.

Lung cancer also places a significant economic burden on our society. The National Cancer Institute estimates that there will be 221,130 new lung cancer cases and 156,940 deaths from lung cancer in the United States in 2011. The National Institutes of Health report that an estimated $9.6 billion is spent each year in the United States on lung cancer treatment alone.

You can help in the fight against lung cancer by taking these steps:
1) If you smoke, stop. The American Lung Association offers two programs to help you quit for good: the Freedom From Smoking program at www.ffsonline.org and the Tobacco Quit Line/Lung Help Line at: 1-800-LUNG-USA.
2) If you are a non-smoker, take care to avoid exposure to secondhand smoke at home, work and at play. There is no safe level of secondhand smoke.
3) Test your home for radon today by purchasing at radon test kit at: www.radonkit.org. The American Lung Association and the Environmental Protection Agency recommend that all homes be tested for radon.

In addition, the American Lung Association provides support to patients, caregivers and professionals through its Lung Help Line: 1-800-LUNG-USA, which is staffed by registered nurses and respiratory therapists. The American Lung Association offers free counseling and support to callers seeking information about lung cancer.

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About the American Lung Association in Alaska
The American Lung Association in Alaska is a non-profit, voluntary public health organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease in Alaska. Our programs focus on the areas of asthma, clean air, tobacco prevention and lung disease.

For more information about the American Lung Association in Alaska or to support the work it does, call: (907) 276-5864 or visit: www.aklung.org.