November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) is working to increase awareness among Iowans of the risk factors for lung cancer and provide information about lung cancer screening. Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths in Iowa. Iowa ranks 14th in the nation for the rate of new cases of lung cancer.
According to the CDC, cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer. Radon is another important major risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that someone will get cancer; it means that someone has a higher chance of developing cancer. Some cancer risk factors, like a person’s age, can’t be changed, but some cancer risk factors can be controlled.
Cigarette smoking is linked to about 80% to 90% of lung cancer deaths in the U.S. Using other tobacco products such as cigars also increases the risk of lung cancer. People who smoke cigarettes are 15 to 30 times more likely to get lung cancer or die from lung cancer than people who do not smoke.
If you smoke or use tobacco products and would like to quit, Quitline Iowa is a free program that has helped over 1.5 million people quit tobacco. Professional quit coaches and an online community provide support including connections to resources like nicotine quit medications.
Radon is a natural radioactive gas that can cause cancer. You can’t see, smell or taste it, but radon may be in your home. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer among people who smoke. The EPA also considers the entire state of Iowa to be at high risk for radon gas in homes. Iowa HHS contracts with the American Lung Association to staff Iowa’s Radon Hotline. The hotline is available by calling 1-800-383-5992 to order low-cost radon test kits and find answers to radon questions. Operating hours are 8:30 a.m. (CST) through 4:30 p.m. (CST).
Some Iowans qualify for lung cancer screening. Lung cancer screening can help detect tumors earlier, when they are more treatable. When lung cancer is found at an earlier stage, it has a higher five-year survival rate compared to when it is found at a later stage. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends yearly lung cancer screening with low dose computed tomography (LDCT scan) for people who:
- Have a 20 year-pack a day (one pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years) or more smoking history, and
- Smoke now or have quit within the past 15 years, and
- Are between 50 and 80 years old.
During an LDCT scan, the x-ray machine uses a low dose of radiation to create detailed images of the person’s lungs. The scan only takes a few minutes and is not painful. If you qualify for lung cancer screening, you do not have to quit smoking cigarettes or using tobacco products to get screened.
Earlier this year, Quitline Iowa began implementing a new process to inform Quitline participants if they qualify for lung cancer screening.
How to connect with a personal coach through Quitline Iowa:
- Visit https://quitlineiowa.org/
- Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669)
- Text START to 300500
For more information about lung cancer screenings: https://www.cdc.gov/lung-cancer/screening/
For more information about lung cancer in Iowa: https://shri.public-health.uiowa.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2024-Spotlight_Lung-Cancer-in-Iowa_August-2024.pdf
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