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New lifesaving lung cancer screening available - November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Fewer than 5 percent of those eligible participate
November 6, 2018

Lung cancer is the nation’s leading cause of cancer deaths for both women and men, with 890 new diagnoses in Delaware estimated in 2018 alone. During November, Lung Cancer Awareness Month, the American Lung Association highlights a newly available lung cancer screening which helps diagnose the disease in the earliest stages when it’s most curable, potentially saving thousands of lives.

“Screening for the disease can make all the difference, and if lung cancer is caught before it spreads, the likelihood of surviving five years or more improves to 56 percent,” said American Lung Association Chief Mission Officer Deb Brown. “We must ensure that people are aware of lung cancer and its risk factors, and speak with their doctor if they’re concerned about their risk.”

According to the ALA, if the 8 million Americans eligible were screened, an estimated 25,000 lives would be saved. While screening is available at no cost through Medicare and most insurance plans, fewer than 5 percent of those eligible are currently getting screened. Screening is recommended for those who are ages 55-80 and currently smoke, or have quit within the last 15 years and smoked the equivalent of 30 “pack years” (one pack a day for 30 years, two packs for 15 years and so on). 

Through its Lung Force initiative, the ALA works to raise awareness of this new screening, including through a partnership with the Ad Council in the first-of-its-kind public awareness campaign Saved By The Scan. The campaign encourages current and former smokers to talk to their doctor about their risk and take an online eligibility quiz at SavedByTheScan.org/quiz. This quiz has helped more than 137,000 Americans learn about their risk for lung cancer.

The ALA has partnered with the American Thoracic Society to launch the Lung Cancer Screening Implementation Guide. It helps community hospitals and healthcare systems implement lung cancer screening programs to encourage access for those who qualify, regardless of where they live. 

“We want to make sure that everyone who qualifies for screening knows it’s an option, and that they can access screening in their communities,” said Brown. “We’re at a pivotal moment in addressing this disease, and we’re working to spread the word about screening as it is literally lifesaving for so many people.”

The ALA also continues to push for better treatment options and new methods of early detection, noting that screening is currently recommended only for select current and former smokers. There are a variety of risk factors associated with lung cancer, including exposure to radon gas, secondhand smoke and air pollution, as well as genetic factors, and sometimes the causes of lung cancer are unknown. 

“To ultimately defeat lung cancer, we need to address all risk factors and continue to invest in lung cancer research funding,” said Brown. “Since 2014, the lung association’s investment in lung cancer research has increased by 160 percent, and we’re going to continue pushing for more research, advancements and awareness until lung cancer is a thing of the past.”

For more information about lung cancer, to share experiences with the disease and support lung cancer research, go to www.lung.org/lung-cancer

 

 

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