November is Lung Cancer Awareness month and at Crystal Run Healthcare we want to take a few moments to share some important information about the prevalence of Lung Cancer and what you can do to manage your risk.
In 2018, lung cancer occurred in approximately 2.09 million patients worldwide and caused 1.76 million deaths. In the United States, lung cancer occurs in approximately 230,000 patients and causes over 135,000 deaths annually. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States for both men and women.
PREVENTION
The likelihood of surviving lung cancer has improved over the last decade; however, the best way to beat lung cancer is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. The single best way to reduce your risk of developing lung cancer is to quit smoking – or never start!
The risk of developing lung cancer in people who have never smoked is 0.2% but increases to 24.4% for heavy smokers. The risk decreases dramatically to 5.5% for those who have quit smoking. It’s never too late! Crystal Run Healthcare offers resources to help smokers quit, including a Smoking Cessation program. Learn more about our smoking cessation here and check our event calendar to stay up-to-date on our 2021 classes.
Beside smoking cessation, there are several other interventions which can reduce your risk of developing lung cancer. These include:
- Avoid secondhand smoke
- Help family members quit smoking
- Talk to children early about not smoking to prevent them from starting
- Check your home for radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer, with a home testing kit
- Reduce your occupational exposure to carcinogens such as asbestos, metals (arsenic, chromium, and nickel), radiation, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
- Eat more fruits and vegetables
- Limit alcohol intake
- Exercise regularly, about 30 minutes a day of moderate exercise
- Be careful of dietary supplements (some have increased the risk of lung cancer such as beta carotene). A healthy balanced diet is more valuable than supplements
SCREENING
Traditional chest X-rays are not an effective lung cancer screening tool, however low dose CT (LDCT) scans of the chest are safe, effective, and offer much less radiation exposure than a standard chest CT scan. Lung cancer screening has been associated with a 20% reduction in the risk of death from lung cancer in selected patient populations. Crystal Run Healthcare is a designated ACR Lung Cancer Screening Center with screenings available in six office locations in three different counties. In order to be eligible for a low dose CT scan, you must be considered at high risk for developing lung cancer as defined by:
- Being between the ages of 55-80
- Having smoked 1 pack of cigarettes per day for at least 30 years
- Are currently smoking or quit smoking less than 15 years ago
Make this November the year that you speak to a loved one about quitting smoking. If you are at high risk of developing lung cancer, please speak with your Crystal Run Healthcare provider to arrange for a low dose CT scan to begin your annual screening process.
Crystal Run Healthcare is one of only two designated ACR Lung Cancer Screening Center in Orange County and the only such designated facility in Sullivan County. Crystal Run’s exceptional team of Oncologists is experienced in treating all types and stages of cancer. If you’re high risk for developing lung cancer, make an appointment with your Primary Care Specialist and they’ll complete the steps to send you for a screening.
Oncology services are available in Orange, Sullivan, and Rockland Counties. With these services available in Middletown, Monroe, Newburgh, Rock Hill, and West Nyack offices, there’s always a Crystal Run Healthcare office conveniently close to home. Appointments can be made with our providers directly online at crystalrunhealthcare.com/find-a-doctor or by calling (845) 703-6999. Our coordinated approach to care allows seamless referrals from Primary Care to Oncology. Make an appointment today to experience the Crystal Run difference for yourself.
Manuel C. Perry, MD, is an Oncologist and Hematologist at Crystal Run Healthcare. He earned his Medical Degree at Tufts University in Boston, MA and completed his Residency in Internal Medicine at New England Medical Center in Boston, MA. He completed Fellowship-training in Hematology & Oncology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA. He’s Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology, and Medical Oncology and is seeing patients in Middletown and Rock Hill.
Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5149487/
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer/about/key-statistics.html