Lung Cancer Awareness Month is a national campaign dedicated to increasing attention to lung cancer issues. The need is there, as lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in American men and women today, according to the American Cancer Society. It’s also the most preventable form of cancer, with 87 percent of lung cancer cases attributable to tobacco use.
Lung Cancer is a disease that begins in the tissue of the lungs. It’s estimated that more than 213,000 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. before year’s end, and more than 160,000 lives will be lost.
The lung cells of smokers go through changes that can lead to lung cancer. The longer people have been smoking and the more packs per day they smoked, the greater their risk is of developing lung cancer. Former smokers are also at elevated risk for lung cancer. Of course there are other causes of lung cancer, such as being exposed to radon and certain cancer-causing agents in the environment, aging and lung scarring from some types of pneumonia. People who work with asbestos also have a higher risk of getting lung cancer and another form of cancer.
However, there are certain things that people can do to reduce their risk of getting the disease. Remember the following five simple tips:
1. Quit Smoking
According to reports, smoking is the number-one risk factor for lung cancer. Quitting smoking is the best defense against lung cancer.
2. Eat fruits and vegetables
Studies suggest eating fruits and vegetables, which are rich in antioxidants and flavonoids, will help to protect your cell’s DNA and repair damaged cells.
3. Have your home tested for radon
Radon is the result of broken down uranium. It is a radioactive gas that cannot be seen, felt, smelled or tasted. According to reports, uranium occurs naturally in the soil, and the fear is that homes are being built over natural deposits, creating high levels of indoor radon exposure, which can lead to lung cancer.
4. Know what you are being exposed to in the workplace
If you are exposed to fumes, dust, chemicals and such at work, you have a right to know. Gasoline, diesel exhaust, arsenic, vinyl chloride, nickel chromates, coal products, mustard gas, and chloromethyl ethers are all carcinogens and can be found in some work environments. Talk to your employer about limiting exposure.
5. Keep away from secondhand smoke
Secondhand smoke is the smoke exhaled from a smoker or smoke from a lit cigarette, pipe or cigar. This smoke contains more than 60 known carcinogens (agents causing cancer). These carcinogens interrupt normal cell development. This interference of cell development is what starts the cancer process.
Web sites such as the American Cancer Society at http://www.cancer.org and others offer a plethora of information regarding available resources, tips for quitting smoking, research and much more.
