November 01, 2026
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, according to the Centers for Disease Control, there were 8,387 new lung cancer cases in 2023 and 4,916 deaths due to lung cancer in 2024 in Michigan; and,
WHEREAS, the 5-year survival rate for localized lung cancer is ~65%, yet only ~24% of lung cancers are diagnosed at this stage; and,
WHEREAS, screening for lung cancer for high-risk individuals using low-dose computed tomography 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, continued research is needed in the early diagnosis, screening, and treatment of lung cancer, as well as in lung cancer affecting women and lung cancer health disparities; and,
WHEREAS, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States, and each year more women die from lung cancer than breast cancer; and,
WHEREAS, Black men have among the highest rates of lung cancer incidence and mortality in the United States, and disparities in lung cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, and mortality are well characterized among Black and African American people and other racial and ethnic minority populations; and,
WHEREAS, Veterans experience a substantial burden of lung cancer, and additional research is needed for the early detection and treatment of lung cancer and to address health disparities among Veterans; and,
WHEREAS, lung cancer can occur in individuals who have never smoked, with approximately 10–20% of lung cancers in the United States, or 20,000–40,000 cases each year, occurring among people who never smoked; whereas, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among individuals who do not smoke and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall; and,
WHEREAS, the stigma surrounding lung cancer creates barriers to early diagnosis, treatment, and funding for research, has a detrimental impact on the quality of life of people diagnosed with lung cancer, and hinders awareness of and research into lung cancer risk factors other than smoking; and,
WHEREAS, lung cancer research is leading to breakthroughs in the identification of genetic alterations associated with lung cancer and in the development of lung cancer treatments, including immunotherapies and targeted therapies; and,
WHEREAS, organizations working in Michigan such as the American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative and Women’s Lung Cancer Forum, are committed to educating about lung cancer and lung cancer screening and working to increase lung cancer screening rates in Michigan;
NOW THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, hereby proclaim November 2026 as Lung Cancer Awareness Month in Michigan, and recognize the need for research in lung cancer affecting women, veterans, and racial minorities, and lung cancer health disparities, and encourage all citizens to learn about lung cancer and early detection through lung cancer screening.
