Mercy Health, which provides advanced, quality care with compassion in your neighborhood through its care network, reminds you that November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

If you have already quit smoking, congratulations! Whether you still smoke or have quit, you’ve probably wondered about the health of your lungs. Now you can take action that can give you peace of mind and maybe even save your life thanks to Mercy Health’s lung cancer screening and pulmonary program with locations throughout Cincinnati, including Anderson Township, Clermont, Fairfield, Kenwood, Mason, West Hospital and Winton Hills.

Physicians diagnose approximately 220,000 new cases of lung cancer each year and nearly 160,000 people die from the disease annually. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men and women and kills more people than breast, prostate and colon cancer combined. Tobacco use accounts for 87% of all lung cancer deaths in the U.S. and about 13% of all new cancers.

Lung cancer often has no symptoms or symptoms similar to other illnesses such as coughing, blood in sputum, shortness of breath, wheezing, hoarseness, chest pain and fatigue.

“Early detection of lung cancer can save your life,” says Mercy Health Physician and pulmonologist David Dortin, DO. “If you’re between the ages of 55-77 years old and have smoked a pack a day (or more) for 30 years and either continue to smoke or have quit in the past 15 years, experts recommend you have a yearly lung cancer screening. Lung screening has been shown to reduce lung cancer deaths 20% compared to the standard chest x-ray among those with a smoking history.”

Since starting the program in 2014, Mercy Health – Cincinnati has screened more than 850 patients, finding more than 15 cancers and initiating follow-ups with many patients whose screenings revealed abnormalities that may develop into cancer.

If you are between the ages of 55-77, have a 30 pack-year history of smoking and are interested in a lung cancer screening, Mercy Health recommends that you first have a discussion with your physician to determine if a screening is appropriate for you. Once you have the order from your physician call the Cancer Concierge at 513-9-CANCER (513-922-6237) to find out how to get screened.

To calculate your pack-year smoking history take the number of years you have smoked and multiply that by the number of packs of cigarettes you smoke per day, for example, 40 years x 1.5 pack per day= 60 pack-year smoking history. As part of the lung screening program, Mercy Health – Cincinnati also provides experienced Lung Navigators who can assist you in smoking cessation and ensure you receive the care and information you need.