November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Post contributed by Sonya Connelly, Community Health Coordinator

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, an opportunity to raise awareness about lung cancer, help prevent it, and reduce the stigma associated with this disease.

Did you know that lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in the United States for both men and women, accounting for about 1 in 4 of all cancer deaths in the U.S.? 

According to the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, 238,340 patients will be diagnosed with lung and bronchus cancer and 127,070 patients will die of the disease in the United States in 2023. 

Smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer. Other risk factors for lung cancer include exposure to secondhand smoke, a family history of lung cancer, treatment with radiation therapy to the breast or chest, exposure to asbestos, chromium, nickel, arsenic, soot, or tar in the workplace, and exposure to radon. When smoking is combined with other risk factors, the risk of lung cancer is increased.

So what can we do to prevent lung cancer? 

There are several ways to help prevent lung cancer.

  • Don't smoke or stop smoking.

  • Avoid secondhand smoke.

  • Test your home for radon.

  • Avoid carcinogens at work.

  • Eat a diet full of fruits and vegetables.

  • Exercise most days of the week.

  • Regular screenings for lung cancer

One of the hardest things to do is to quit using tobacco. Healthy Acadia promotes the use of the Maine QuitLink as an excellent resource to support people in the quitting process. Visit, Maine QuitLink and 1-800-QUIT-NOW to learn more.  Your call to the QuitLink can be an important first step to help you along the journey of quitting or to help you support a loved one to become tobacco-free.

Another support available when someone decides to stop smoking is Freshstart. It is a nicotine treatment program developed by the American Cancer Society. Healthy Acadia offers this program FREE OF CHARGE for groups or individuals in Hancock County, either in person or virtually, and virtually in Washington County. 

Even though it can be scary to make the decision to quit, quitting now is the right choice for your physical and emotional health. We want to help people quit tobacco and stay quit!  Lung Cancer Awareness Month is the perfect time to make that commitment to yourself or share these resources with loved ones.

Our tobacco prevention team offers in-person and/or virtual interactive discussions around vaping risks, facts and myths for parents, caregivers, teachers, and teens.

To learn more or inquire about tobacco prevention and cessation resources and programming for your school, classroom, or group, please email tobacco@healthyacadia.org or call 207-667-7171 or 207-255-3741.

POSTTracey Carlsontobacco, vaping, quit smoking, QuitLink, lung cancer, cancer screening, cancer risk factors, cancer prevention, cancer, smoking, SPR, SB, HA