No one deserves to bear the burden of lung cancer. This devastating disease is the single leading cancer killer of both men and women in the United States, yet it remains largely overlooked.
Approximately 373,489 Americans are living with lung cancer and more than 221,000 new cases were diagnosed in 2011 alone. There is no better time than now -- National Lung Cancer Awareness Month -- for all Americans to understand the severity of lung cancer and to do what they can to help prevent it and support the fight for a cure.
The causes of lung cancer include cigarette smoke, radon exposure, industrial exposures to hazardous materials like asbestos and arsenic; even some genetic factors pose a lung cancer risk.
The American Lung Association provides services and resources for lung cancer patients. It also supports research that focuses on preventing lung cancer, increasing the survival rate and reducing its effects on patients’ quality of life.
To view lung cancer resources including tips for minimizing the risk of lung cancer and ways to support a friend or loved one with lung cancer, visit www.lung.org.
