Lung Cancer Awareness Month | Cancer Insurance Information

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Lung Cancer Awareness According to the American Cancer Society, by the end of 2011, more than 156,000 people in the United States will have died from lung cancer since New Year’s Eve last year.

This disease takes more lives every year than the combined deaths from breast, colon, prostate, and pancreatic cancers. Furthermore, by the end of this year, 2011 will also have meant that another quarter of a million people will have received a new diagnosis of the condition.

These statistics only underscore the importance of Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November, and the need for people to use this time to remind themselves that there are things that they can do to minimize their risks of the disease through actions such as quitting smoking. Men and women are encouraged to take this time to educate themselves about the disease and what they can do to make sure that they don’t get it.

National Cancer Institute data obtained in a research study of Larimer County showed that out of every 100,000 people, 37 die of lung cancer every year, and an additional 45 of every 100,000 are affected by the disease.

Tobacco is the largest controllable risk factor for lung cancer, and American Cancer Society estimates have indicated that tobacco use is related to up to 90 percent of all of the cases of lung cancer.

Radiation oncologist, Dr. Lee McNeely, from Rocky Mountain CyberKnife explained that most patients with lung cancer are either currently smokers, or have formerly been smokers. McNeely urges smokers to take this time to commit to a quitting program and to talk to other smokers about quitting.

Also, keep in mind that if you do smoke or have smoked in the past that cancer insurance is something to consider. Some plans don’t even have a surcharge for smokers. Just think of cancer insurance as just another tool in your arsenal against cancer.