November is National Lung Cancer Awareness Month and the stakes couldn’t be higher when it comes to early detection. It’s commonly believed that lung cancer—the growth of abnormal, unhealthy cells in one or both lungs that eventually develop into tumors—is a disease associated only with those who smoke or have smoked in the past. It’s a dangerous misconception. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), as many as 20 percent of those who die from lung cancer every year (roughly 16,000 to 24,000 Americans) do not smoke or engage in any form of tobacco use.1 Translation: We’re all potentially at risk.
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