November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Lung cancer can be caused by many things including smoking, and exposure to toxins such as radon gas, asbestos, and arsenic. But around 85% of lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking. The longer a person smokes and the more often they smoke, the higher the risk. Secondhand smoke is also thought to increase a person’s chances of getting lung cancer. More people die of lung cancer every year than of breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, and pancreas cancer combined.

Lung Cancer Awareness Month was started as a way to bring awareness of this deadly disease and the risk factors involved to the world. By having a month every year devoted to activities surrounding this disease, media attention is gained, the word is spread,and people react. With the majority of lung cancer deaths caused by smoking, it is essential that the dangers of smoking be a large focus during awareness month. It is essential to emphasize that prevention in the form of smoking cessation or never smoking at all is the best way to beat this disease.

Some activities you may want to consider when planning a Lung Cancer Awareness Month in your community include fun runs and walks, dances, fundraisers, literature distribution, radio or television interviews, hanging posters in clinics, hospitals, and community centers, and wearing lung cancer awareness bracelets or other accessories or clothing items.

Lung Cancer touches people from all walks of life. It doesn’t discriminate and it can be devastating to families. Help raise attention to this cause in November by planning or participating in Lung Cancer Awareness activities.

Be sure to buy one of our Lung Cancer Awareness Bracelets and support Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

Improving Lung Cancer’s Prognosis

Improving Lung Cancer’s Prognosis
By Joseph Devine

When some types of tissue become cancerous, there are the options of surgical removal or aggressive treatment to the affected area. Unfortunately, these choices are not always available to cancer patients whose illness has originated in the lungs. Because they are both delicate and vital to sustaining life, diseases that affect these organs often have grim prognoses.

If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with cancerous tumors in the lung, you do not need to give up hope. While the statistics may not be encouraging, some people with this disease manage to live for years or even see their illness go into remission. While there is no cure for this disease, there are steps you can take that may improve your prognosis (long-term expectancies).

Factors Affecting NSCLC

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is about four times more common than its counterpart, SCLS. This is the form of the illness that we will be discussing in this article. Every individual case is different, but doctors have identified some factors that seem to affect long-term prognoses. Some examples of these factors include:

Overall health. The stronger your body is, the better it will be able to fight off sickness. By eating nutritious food, exercising as well as you can, and following your doctor’s orders, you can accomplish some very important goals. First, you will feel better despite being sick. Second, you can boost your chances of recovery.

Stage at diagnosis. The sooner cancer is diagnosed, the more likely it is to respond to treatment. Of course, if you have already been diagnosed, there is not much you can do about the stage at diagnosis. However, it remains important to report any changes in your health to your doctor right away, in case they signify a complication that needs treatment. Additionally, if you know anyone who has been showing symptoms like a persistent cough, talk to them about seeing a doctor now.

Mental health. Patients who become severely depressed or angry about their situations are less likely to comply with doctors’ orders or even generally take care of themselves. In addition, research suggests that your emotional state may have a more direct influence on your body’s functioning. This does not mean you should not feel sad or angry. It only means that you should express these feelings and, if necessary, seek help with coping with them.

Cancer is a painful illness that can be very frightening to confront. However, by seeking out the resources you need and taking doctors’ advice, you can have a chance at staying healthy.

To learn more about the causes, symptoms, and treatments for lung cancer, contact the Mesothelioma Asbestos Resource Center

Joseph Devine

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Devine
http://EzineArticles.com/?Improving-Lung-Cancers-Prognosis&id=2974596

We offer Lung Cancer Awareness Bracelets in our store.