Ways to Support Lung Cancer Awareness Month

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Every year, over two million people are diagnosed with lung cancer worldwide. As the global and national leading cause of cancer death, bringing awareness to lung cancer and its funding is fundamental. Since the lungs have few specialized nerves, lung cancer symptoms often do not occur until after the cancer has spread. For Lung Cancer Awareness Month, advocates want at-risk individuals to get screened, to lose the lung cancer stigma, and for every community to spread the word about this deadly cancer.

Since at least 1990, lung cancer patients, families, and advocates have celebrated the cause. Thirteen years later, the lung cancer community and movement grew. In 2003, Congress officially recognized the month of November as Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

 

Ways to Support Lung Cancer Awareness Month

There are many ways to support Lung Cancer Awareness Month. By the end of this year, 1 in 16 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with lung cancer. That’s 235,760 people that need our support now more than ever. Throughout November, show support by wearing the symbol of lung cancer; a white ribbon. Help by sharing accurate information about lung cancer to people in your community and if you are able, donate to non-profit cancer organizations. Here are other ways you can show support this November:

• Wear white clothing and white ribbons.
• Donate time or money to not-for-profit lung cancer organizations.
• Sign up for the Lung Cancer Center newsletter at the bottom of this page for up-to-date lung cancer information.
• Buy merch to show your support everywhere you go.
• Share Lung Cancer Center’s social media posts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
• Follow along our weekly Lung Cancer Awareness Month blog posts to learn more about lung cancer and its need for awareness.
• Promote accurate lung cancer information on social media. Be sure to tag us and use #LCC so we can check it out!
• Join or create a Lung Cancer Awareness event in your community.
• Report your own lung cancer story and read about others’ by using the hashtags: #LCAndMe, #LivingWithLungCancer, #LCAM, #LungCancerAwarenessMonth, #LCC, and #ShareHope.
• Join American Lung Association’s virtual Lung Cancer Patient Meetup.

Facts to Share During November

• Lung cancer is the leading cause of death in the United States.
• About 8 million Americans qualify as high-risk for lung cancer and should receive early screenings annually.
• Nearly 18% of people diagnosed with lung cancer are people who have never smoked.
• Many mesothelioma patients are misdiagnosed with lung cancer.
• Lung cancer claims more lives every year than the next most common cancers combined: colorectal, pancreatic, breast, or prostate cancer.
• Asbestos, radon, and other pollutants can cause lung cancer.
• There are two main types of lung cancer: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
• 2.2 million people worldwide are diagnosed with lung cancer annually.
• Smoking is not the only cause of lung cancer.
• Lung cancer screening can find cancer early before symptoms start.
• Black men are 15% more likely to develop lung cancer than white men.
• More than half the people with lung cancer die within one year of being diagnosed.