November 2024: Lung Cancer Awareness Month

WHEREAS, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among men and women in the United States and Michigan, accounting for more deaths than colon cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer combined; and,

WHEREAS, funding for lung cancer research trails far behind funding for research of many other cancers, and additional research is needed in early diagnosis, screening, and treatment for lung cancer as well as in lung cancer affecting women and lung cancer health disparities; and,

WHEREAS, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, there were 40,061 new lung cancer cases and 26,693 deaths because of lung cancer between 2017 and 2021 in Michigan; and,

WHEREAS, the 5-year survival rate for localized lung cancer is about 60%, yet only about 28% of lung cancers are diagnosed at this stage; and,

WHEREAS, Black men have the highest rates of lung cancer incidence and mortality, and disparities in lung cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, and mortality are well characterized among African Americans and other racial minorities; and,

WHEREAS, lung cancer risk in women is rising relative to men in western countries, women diagnosed with lung cancer are more likely to be never-smokers, and by 2035, it is expected that more women will die from lung cancer than men; and,

WHEREAS, lung cancer in never smokers accounts for 20,000-40,000 deaths in the US every year, and the proportion of lung cancers diagnosed in never smokers is increasing in the US; and,

WHEREAS, screening for lung cancer for high-risk individuals using low dose computed tomography (LDCT) can lead to the earlier detection of lung cancer and save lives, reducing the mortality by 20% when compared to screening by chest x-ray in the National Lung Screening Trial and reducing the risk of death at 10 years by 24% in men and 33% in women as demonstrated by another large randomized trial; and,

WHEREAS, organizations working in Michigan such as the American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative, are committed to educating the public about lung cancer and lung cancer screening and working to increase lung cancer screening rates in Michigan;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim November 2024 as Lung Cancer Awareness Month in Michigan, and recognize the need for research in lung cancer affecting women and lung cancer health disparities, and encourage all citizens to learn about lung cancer and early detection through lung cancer screening.