touch younger people depending on their lifestyle. Most people diagnosed with lung cancer are 65 or older; a very small number of people diagnosed are younger than 45. The average age of people when diagnosed is about 70.
In 2020, the ACS reported that lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women, making up almost 25% of all cancer deaths. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined.
What are the symptoms?
Lung cancer doesn’t really show up in a big way early on. Signs and symptoms usually reveal themselves when the cancer grows more in the body.
Signs and symptoms of lung cancer may include:
- A new cough that doesn’t go away
- Coughing up blood, even a small amount
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Hoarseness
- Losing weight without trying
- Bone pain
- Headache
RELATED: 10 Common Factors Increasing Your Risk for Lung Cancer
How can it be avoided?
It’s always advised to try to lead a healthy lifestyle with diet, exercise, and low stress in mind. But the risk of getting lung cancer is significantly cut if you don’t smoke or use any tobacco products.
Additionally, the CDC has reported that the number of new lung cancer cases continues to decrease, partly because people are actively moving away from smoking. Also, the number of deaths from lung cancer continues to drop due to people stopping smoking and advances in early detection and treatment.
BDO’s Black History of Health series is designed to show the correlation between the health of historical black figures and Black Americans today. Many of the health disparities we currently experience have been in our community for centuries. This series is meant to bring these conditions to the forefront and provide blacks with preventative and management steps to reduce these disparities and improve the overall health of the Black American community. It’s time to change the narrative.