World Lung Cancer Day helps create awareness and provides education to people worldwide with the goal to help fund lung cancer research. 

#worldlungcancerday

Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the country and has been the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Over the past 20 years, lung cancer rates in the U.S. — as well as the death rate — have been declining and the five-year survival expectancy is trending up. However, data collected from 2013 to 2019 shows lung cancer has a much lower survival rate for people in the U.S. (25.4%) compared to five-year survival estimates for other types of cancers, such as "female breast cancer" (90.8%) or cancer of the prostate (97.1%). That being said, survival rates vary based on stage of diagnosis with better rates for those with early diagnosis and localized disease (cancer has not spread) and much lower rates for advanced disease.

Most often, lung cancer is detected in later stages.  This is because signs and symptoms usually don't occur until the disease is advanced.  

• Smoking, including passive smoking,
• Exposure to radiation therapy, radon gas, asbestos and other carcinogens
• Family history
• Old age population
• Obesity
• Alcohol abuse
• Viral infections (HPV)