11/04/2025
NOVEMBER is Lung Cancer Awareness Month
🔑 Key Facts & Messages
Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer.
· Causes about 1 in 5 cancer deaths, more than breast, colon, and prostate cancers combined.
· In 2025, Nebraska is expected to see 1,260 new cases and 720 deaths from lung cancer.
Screening saves lives.
· Annual low-dose CT scans can find lung cancer early, when it’s most treatable, and reduce deaths by up to 20%.
· Early-stage lung cancer has a 59% five-year survival rate, compared to just 9%for late-stage diagnoses.
To***co is the top risk factor.
· Smoking causes 80–90% of lung cancer deaths in the U.S.
· People who quit smoking reduce their risk, no matter their age.
Not everyone with lung cancer has smoked.
· Up to 20% of lung cancer cases occur in people who never smoked.
· Radon exposure is the second leading cause, responsible for an estimated 21,000 deaths annually in the U.S. Protect your lungs. Test your home for radon. Buy a radon test here: https://ncdhd.ne.gov/radon
· Secondhand smoke is the third most common cause.
Know the symptoms.
· A cough that doesn’t go away or worsens
· Chest pain, hoarseness, or shortness of breath
· Unexplained weight loss, tiredness, or frequent infections
Lung cancer screening is available in Nebraska.
· Recommended for adults ages 50–80 with a 20+ pack-year smoking history who currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years.
· Talk with your healthcare provider to see if screening is right for you.
💨Take a deep breath, then take action.
Visit www.necancer.org/lungcancer to learn more about screening and lung cancer prevention.