November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Lung cancer is the largest cause of cancer deaths for both men and women in the United States. According to the National Lung Cancer Partnership, this disease will kill more people each year, than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined. There is no better time than November, Lung Cancer Awareness Month to become better informed about this disease.

Though many associate smoking as the only cause for lung cancer, there are many other factors that can play a role, such as exposure to second hand smoke, family history of lung cancer, asbestos and other substances that diminish air qualitiy. Approximately 10% to 15% of lung cancer patients have never smoked, which equates to 20,000 to 30,000 of the 160,000 new cases of lung cancer diagnosed in the United States each year, according to the National Lung Cancer Partnership. Research has shown that women will comprise a larger percentage of new lung cancer cases each year of individuals who have never smoked. According to The Savvy Woman Patient, about 25% of all cancer deaths in women can be attributed to lung cancer, with more women in the U.S. dying of lung cancer each year than in any other country of the world. The Savvy Woman Patient: How and Why Sex Differences Affect Your Health, is a book created by the Society for Women's Health Research that explains the wide scope of sex-based health differences between women and men.

Though these statistics can seem frightening, the earlier lung cancer is diagnosed the better chance there is of achieving a remission from the disease. Especially since women seem to develop lung cancer at a younger age than men, it is important to know the symptoms of lung cancer, in order to achieve an early and possibly life saving diagnosis. The Savvy Woman Patient, lists shortness of breath, fatigue, pain, weakness, hoarseness, headache and frequent, long-lasting colds, coughs or pneumonia as some of the most common symptoms. If any of these symptoms are felt for an extended period of time, if there is a history of smoking or if there is a family history of lung cancer it is always best to visit a health professional to get checked.

Methods used to check for lung cancer include, sprial CT scans, chest x-rays, and bronchoscopies, where a small microscope with a camera is inserted down the throat and into the lungs (The Savvy Woman Patient).

Perhaps even more important than learning how to diagnose lung cancer is taking steps to prevent lung cancer. The best way to guard against lung cancer is to never start smoking and to shield the lungs as much as possible from second hand smoke. Additionally, The Savvy Women Patient states that, eating a diet high in vegetables and fruit, at least seven servings of varied vegetables and fruits every day, is helpful in preventing lung cancer. Lastly, it is important to tell doctors of any risk of lung cancer that there may be, this way the doctor can perform screenings, which will increase the odds of early detection.

In order to support Lung Cancer Awareness Month, the best thing to do is raise awareness and increase funding for lung cancer research. It is especially important to fund programs that will look into sex differences in lung cancer to better understand how this disease affects men and women differently.