The New York State Department of Health recognized Lung Cancer Awareness Day on Friday and encourages New Yorkers to remain proactive in screening and early detection of lung cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in New York State. Smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer.
“Early detection of lung cancer can make a life changing and life-threatening diagnosis more treatable,” State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. “Some individuals with lung cancer may present as asymptomatic, which is why proactive screening is critical to detect the disease in early stages.”
Lung cancer screening means checking the lungs with a low dose computed tomography scan (CT scan) before any symptoms of lung cancer begin. Screening does not prevent lung cancer but can help find it early when it’s easier to treat.
Yearly lung cancer screening is recommended for people between the ages of 50 and 80 who are at high risk because of their smoking history. In New York State, people who need lung cancer screening can have those services covered yearly by Medicaid and most health insurance plans. Lung cancer screening is a covered benefit until the age of 77 years for individuals on Medicare. To find a nearby screening location, visit www.nylungcancerscreening.com.
According to the latest Department of Health data, lung cancer claims about 7,000 lives across New York each year, and smoking causes almost 80 percent of those lung cancer deaths. The rate of lung cancer is higher among males than in females. For both sexes, non-Hispanic White people have the highest incidence rates, while Hispanic people have the lowest rates.
Smoking cigarettes, cigars or other tobacco products has long been shown to be the leading cause of lung cancer. Additionally, the vapor or aerosol from e-cigarettes can contain many of the same substances found in tobacco smoke that are linked to lung disease and lung cancer.
Secondhand smoke is also a major cause of lung cancer among people who do not smoke. Living with someone who smokes increases the chance of developing lung cancer or heart disease by as much as 30 percent.
Because of these factors, the most important step a person can take to protect against lung cancer is not to smoke. For those who currently smoke, it’s never too late to quit. While quitting earlier in life yields greater health benefits, people who quit later in life or have smoked heavily also benefit from quitting. Anyone who smokes or has a history of smoking should talk to their health care provider about lung cancer screening. Quitting benefits not only an individual’s physical health, but can improve mental health and reduce anxiety, stress, and depression. Smokers who receive medications and counseling double their chances of successfully quitting.
The New York State Quitline provides a number of free resources and tools to aid efforts to quit, including confidential quit coaching, support in both English and Spanish and free Nicotine Replacement Therapy, such as patches and gum. Services are available by calling 1-866 NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487) or texting (716) 309-4688.
Beyond smoking there are other risk factors that can affect an individual’s chance of developing lung cancer. Any of these risk factors alone increase the risk of lung cancer, but combined with smoking they can increase the risk even more. These risk factors can include the following:
- Radon gas. Exposure to radon gas has been estimated to be the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Have your home tested for radon, especially if you live in a high radon area. If radon levels in your home are high, make the necessary modifications.
- Asbestos in the workplace. People exposed to high levels of asbestos on the job, such as shipbuilders and pipefitters, have an increased risk of lung cancer.
- Ionizing radiation. Exposure to high levels of ionizing radiation, such as radiation treatments for other cancers, increases risk for getting lung cancer. Discuss the risks and benefits of medical imaging with a health care provider to avoid unnecessary exposure to ionizing radiation. This is particularly important for children.
- Personal and family history. People who have had lung cancer and people with a close relative who had lung cancer may be at increased risk of developing lung cancer.
- Other lung diseases. People with a history of other diseases of the lung, such as tuberculosis (TB), are at increased risk of developing lung cancer.
- Other workplace exposures. Other chemicals or substances that may be found at high levels in certain workplaces have been identified as risk factors for lung cancer. These include arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, vinyl chloride, nickel compounds, chromium compounds, coal products, tars and soot, chloromethyl ethers and diesel exhaust.
Additional information about lung cancer is available from these sources:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- National Cancer Institute
- American Lung Association
- American Cancer Society
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