Lung cancer is the most deadly form of cancer for men and women in the United States yet it’s one of the most preventable cancers as cigarette smoking is linked to 90% of lung cancer cases. November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month and the perfect time to quit smoking or help your loved ones finally quit. We travel to state fairs every year to discuss the dangers of smoking, obesity and other lifestyle factors that can cause cancer. At the Kansas State Fair, the highlight of our exhibit by far was the pig lungs, showing the damage that long-term, heavy smoking causes.
Did you visit the Kansas State Fair this year? Did you stop by our Health Awareness and Prevention 
booth? You probably remember cringing at the tar-filled “smoker’s” pig lung showing the damaging effects of smoking. Our Honorary Co-Chairs, Senator Pat and Franki Roberts, were amazed at the contrast between the damaged lung and the healthy lung. The lungs spurred countless conversations about preventing lung cancer and many wishes for family members to quit smoking.
If you smoke, your lung probably looks similar to the pig’s lung. The best thing you can do for your health is to quit. It is never too soon—or too late. If you’re having trouble getting started, here are a few tips for quitting from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- If you’re a heavy smoker or former smoker, talk to your health care professional about whether you should be screened. Screening high-risk smokers with low-dose spiral CT scans can reduce the number of deaths from lung cancer by 20%.
- If you’re not a smoker, avoid exposure to secondhand smoke, which is also linked to lung cancer, and encourage your friends and family to join you in a smoke-free lifestyle. Let’s work together to prevent lung cancer and save lives.
We got some great news! Fairgoers next year will breathe easier as the Kansas State Fair will restrict smoking to designated areas only.
What choices have you made today to start or continue living a healthy lifestyle? This November, if you smoke, you can decide to quit, or you can help a loved one who is trying to quit. Let’s Stop Cancer Before It Starts!™
For more information about how you can reduce your risk for cancer, visit preventcancer.org.
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