Expert advice to lower your lung cancer risk
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Lung cancer is one of the top three most common forms of cancer in the U.S. One in 14 men and one in 16 women will be diagnosed in their lifetime. While nothing can prevent all lung cancers, there are steps you can take to lower your risk for lung cancer significantly:

  • Quit smoking or vaping. For help, go to nysmokefree.com or call the New York State Smokers’ Quitline, 1-866-NY-QUITS(697-8487)
  • Avoid secondhand smoke whenever possible
  • Avoid exposure to asbestos, radon and other substances that cause lung cancer

If you think you may be at risk for lung cancer, screening may be an option. When lung cancer is found early, in Stage 1, patients have an 88% survival rate at 10 years – but early detection is critical. Lung cancer screenings can catch cancer early when you have more treatment options and the greatest chance for a cure.

Screening for Lung Cancer

You might qualify for lung cancer screening if you:

  • have a history of lung, esophagus, head or neck cancer,
  • are over 50 years old, currently smoke or have smoked within the last 15 years (even if you’ve quit now), or
  • have a 20 pack/year history of smoking or more; to calculate your pack/year history, multiply the number of packs per day you smoked by the number of years you smoked (two packs per day for 10 years makes a 20 pack/year history).

Screening usually begins with low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans, which take many images of the lungs to form a detailed 3D picture. Your doctor then examines these images for growths or other issues that might indicate cancer. If your CT scan is clear, you may get a repeat test in 1 to 3 years, depending on your health and risk for lung cancer.

If your doctor does find a growth or nodule, you might need further testing to determine if you have lung cancer; Ellis offers cutting-edge technology and capabilities such as electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB).

No matter the results of your screening, the teams at Ellis Medicine and Roswell Park offer the care you need to improve your lung health.

Live-Saving Cancer Care, nearby in your community.

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