November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

November 1, 2022

Did you know that lung cancer is the #1 cause of cancer-related deaths in men and women in the United States? It develops when abnormal cells grow in either the lungs or the bronchi (the air tubes that lead to the lungs). Knowing your risk for getting lung cancer will help you decide whether screening is right for you. A risk factor is anything that increases your chance of getting a disease, such as cancer. Important risk factors for lung cancer include your age, and how many years you have smoked, if any. People who smoke usually are at greater risk for getting lung cancer. Research studies show that female smokers may be more likely to get the disease than male smokers. However, people who never smoked also can get lung cancer.

Other than your age and years of smoking, here are some other factors that may put you at risk:

• Breathing in the smoke of other people (secondhand smoke).
• Exposure to radon (a radioactive gas found in some homes and buildings).
• Breathing in other substances that cause cancer, such as asbestos, arsenic, and exhaust from vehicles or machines.
• Having a family member related to you by blood with lung cancer.

If you have any of these risk factors, talk with your healthcare provider to learn if screening is right for you, or click here to see if you are eligible for a lung cancer screening with a two-minute quiz.

Please be reminded that the Welfare Fund has a partnership with MSK Direct to provide members and your families the highest-quality cancer programs and services, virtually or in-person, to help navigate your unique journey of screening and prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and life beyond cancer. If you or a family member are impacted by cancer and would like to discuss treatment options at MSK, call the dedicated MSK Direct phone line for NYCDCC participants and dependents at (844) 386-3368 or visit www.mskcc.org/nycdcc.