November is National Lung Cancer Awareness Month

One in sixteen people will be diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime and 20% of them have never smoked. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide and kills almost three times more people than prostate cancer and breast cancer. The good news is, early detection of high-risk lung cancer can increase your chance of survival by almost 20%. The other good news? Greene County Medical Center is investing in your health by providing great preventative care such as CT Lung Cancer Screenings.

November is National Lung Cancer Awareness Month and there is no better time to see if you qualify for a lung screening. To qualify for a CT Lung Cancer Screening you must meet the following criteria:

• Are between the ages of 55-77 years old
• Have at least a 30-pack year history (number of pack years = years smoking x packs per day)
• Are a current smoker and have been offered information on available smoking cessation programs or have quit smoking in the last 15 years
• Have not received treatment or had any evidence of any cancer other than non-melanoma of the skin in the past five years
• Do not have a personal history of lung cancer or any signs or symptoms of lung cancer
• Have not had any recent hemoptysis, or coughing or spitting up blood
• Do not have a history of removal of the lung, excluding needle biopsy
• Do not require home oxygen supplementation
• Are not participating in a cancer prevention study, other than a smoking cessation study
• Have not had pneumonia or an acute respiratory infection treated with antibiotics in the last 12 weeks
• Have not had unexplained weight loss of more than 15 pounds in the last 12 months