Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
Just the Facts
• Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women in the United States.
• Each year, about 218,500 people in the United States are told they have lung cancer, and about 142,000 people die from this disease.
• Different people have different symptoms for lung cancer. Most people with lung cancer don’t have symptoms until the cancer is advanced.
• The lung cancer survival rate has dramatically increased by 33% over the past ten years thanks in part to treatment advances and increased access to care.
• The Surgeon General reports e-cigarette use among youth is a significant public health concern and steps must be taken by parents, educators and especially policymakers to discourage use of e-cigarettes.
Lung Cancer Screening
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends yearly lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography (CT scan) for people who—
• Have a 20 pack-year or more smoking history, and
• Smoke now or have quit within the past 15 years, and
• Are between 50 and 80 years old.
A pack-year is smoking an average of one pack of cigarettes per day for one year. For example, a person could have a 20 pack-year history of smoking one pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years.
Lung cancer screening is not without risks. That is why lung cancer screening is recommended only for adults who are at high risk for developing the disease because of their smoking history and age. If you are thinking about getting screened, learn more and talk to your doctor. Lung cancer screening is not a substitute for quitting smoking.
Don’t Smoke
The most important thing you can do to prevent lung cancer is to not start smoking or to quit if you smoke. Smoking can cause cancer and then block your body from fighting it. Nearly 9 out of 10 lung cancers are caused by smoking cigarettes. Treatments are getting better for lung cancer, but it still kills more men and women than any other type of cancer.
For help quitting, visit smokefree.gov, call 1 (800) QUIT-NOW (784-8669), or text “QUIT” to 47848. It’s never too late to quit!
Stay Away from Secondhand Smoke
Smoke from other people’s cigarettes, pipes, or cigars is called secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke causes lung cancer in adults who have never smoked. People who have never smoked but are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their risk of getting lung cancer by 20% to 30%.
Are e-cigarettes less harmful than cigarettes?
There is no FDA oversight of the manufacturing of these products—which means there is no oversight regarding potentially harmful ingredients.
• E-cigarettes almost always contain harmful ingredients including nicotine.
• Acrolein, a known ingredient of many e-cigarettes, causes irreversible lung damage.
• Nicotine exposure during adolescence can harm the developing brain.
The most popular e-cigarette among teens is JUUL
• All JUUL pods contain some nicotine—something many youths don’t realize.
• According to the manufacturer, one JUUL pod may contain as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes.
• No e-cigarette is safe and effective by FDA in helping smokers quit.
Get Your Home Tested for Radon
Radon is a gas that you cannot smell, taste, or see. It comes naturally from rocks and soil and can dissolve in groundwater. Radon is thought to be the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year.
People can be exposed to radon mainly from breathing radon in air that comes through cracks and gaps in the foundation of buildings and homes. One out of 15 homes has a high level of radon. Testing your home is the only way to find out if you have a radon problem. If you do, then you can fix it.
Dr. Ricardo Martinez
Dr. Ricardo Martinez is an internist in Naples, FL and is affiliated with NCH Baker Hospital. He received his medical degree from Superior Institute of Medical Sciences of Santiago de Cuba and has been in practice 20 years. He also speaks multiple languages, including Spanish. He specializes in hospital medicine, ambulatory care and is experienced in hospice and palliative medicine, bariatric medicine, diabetes mellitus, food allergy, and infectious disease. As of March 16th, 2020, Dr. Martinez has founded Well-Being Medical center in Naples Florida. He is looking forward to providing Medical care within primary care settings and urgent care service throughout the Naples Florida area.
Well-Being Medical Center
239-315-7801
www.well-beingmedicalcenter.org
851 5th Ave. N. Suite 102, Naples, FL 34102
