Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. for both women and men. Every year almost 200,000 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of the disease.
You might think of smoking when you think of the causes of lung cancer, and you’d be correct. Almost 90% of lung cancers occur as a result of smoking. While it’s better to never start smoking at all, you can still significantly reduce your risk by quitting.
Quitline Iowa offers a free tobacco cessation program that can be completed over the phone, online or a combination of both. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit the Quitline Iowa website to learn more.
Staying away from secondhand smoke is also an important method of reducing your risk of lung cancer. Secondhand smoke is the exposure to smoke from other people’s cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. People who have never smoked but are exposed to secondhand smoke regularly — such as at home or work — increase their lung cancer risk by 20% to 30%.
Finally, testing your home for radon is an important step in lung cancer prevention. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is common in Iowa, and it is the second-leading cause of lung cancer. Since radon is colorless and odorless, you will need to test your home to know whether there are elevated radon levels.
The Dallas County Health Department offers radon test kits that you can pick up from our office for $8. You can also have testing kits mailed to you through the American Lung Association website.
Natalie Peters is the community health educator in the Dallas County Public Health Department.
