As November is recognized as Lung Cancer Awareness Month, physicians are recommending to get screened.
Corewell Health lung cancer nurse navigator Karen Kintup tells us it’s important to continue to raise awareness about lung cancer.
“We’re seeing on average about 165 new cases of lung cancers locally in this area,” Kintup says. “It’s claiming more lives annually than breast, colon, and prostate cancers combined. People shouldn’t wait until they quit smoking to be screened. An early diagnosis is their best chances of survival and living cancer-free and beating An early diagnosis is their best chances of survival and living cancer-free and beating it.”
According to the American Lung Association, lung cancer accounts for more than 20% of cancer deaths making it the number 1 cause of cancer deaths for both women and men in the U.S.
“We’re finding cancers a lot sooner if you can get screened and you’re able to get treated better,” Kintup says.
Anyone between the ages of 50 and 80, or people who have smoked or quit in the past 15 years should get a quick screen.
Corewell Health is offering a low-dose CT scan on Nov. 9, at the Corewell Health Care Center in St. Joseph.
