No. 1 cancer killer can be prevented

Lung cancer is America’s No. 1 cancer killer for both men and women, and the statistics are stunning. One in 14 Americans gets lung cancer, killing more people than leukemia and breast, prostate and colorectal cancers combined. Lung cancer accounts for about 14 percent of all new cancer diagnoses and 27 percent of cancer deaths.

In 2011, an estimated 221,130 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer and nearly 157,000 will die from it. In Illinois alone, there’ll be an estimated 9,210 new diagnosed cases and 6,420 deaths. Naturally, smokers and those exposed to secondhand smoke are at higher risk for lung cancer. However, others get lung cancer too. In fact, about 65 percent of all new lung cancer diagnoses are among people who have never smoked or quit decades ago. Risk factors for nonsmokers include exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollution; exposure to certain toxic substances such as asbestos, arsenic or radon; jobs that expose workers to radiation; and personal or family histories of lung cancer.

What steps can we take to prevent this disease? Avoiding tobacco still tops the list. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, quit. For current or former smokers, early detection is key to reducing lung cancer’s death rate. Check your home for radon. Take care of yourself: Eat lots of fruits and vegetables and be physically active. If you are at risk for lung cancer, talk to your health care professional about available screenings.

November is Lung Cancer Awareness month. Let’s make sure people know the facts about lung cancer, take steps to prevent it and help get the attention and research needed to improve understanding and treatment of America’s No. 1 cancer killer. Visit www.preventcancer.org.

Elizabeth Roskam

Wheaton