November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Lung cancer affects people of every background, including many families in our community.
Why It Matters
Lung cancer ranks among the leading causes of cancer deaths in the United States. Black Americans receive diagnoses at later stages, when treatment is harder, and they face higher mortality rates. Delayed care, limited access, and overlooked symptoms all drive these gaps.
Know the Risks
Smoking is a leading cause. Radon in the home, secondhand smoke, and workplace exposures also raise risk for everyone.
Early Detection Saves Lives
Earlier diagnosis opens more treatment options and improves outcomes. Annual low-dose CT screening is available to adults ages 50 to 80 with a 20 pack-year smoking history who currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years. Guidelines continue to evolve, so ask your doctor whether screening fits you.
Take the Next Step
- Talk with your doctor about your risk and screening.
- Report a lingering cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, or unexplained weight loss promptly.
- After a diagnosis, ask about your specific type and any genetic factors, and explore every treatment option, including clinical research studies.
- Test your home for radon.
Walking Together
Let us check on one another, pray for those in treatment, and walk beside families facing this diagnosis. Awareness gives us the power to act, and community gives us the strength to carry on.
References: CDC, Cancer and African American People; Black Health Matters; American Lung Association, Racial and Ethnic Disparities.