Veterans Urged to Undergo Lung Cancer Screening During Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Cancer begins when old cells in an individual’s body begin to mutate instead of dying, growing out of control and creating abnormal cells. A team of oncologists, cardiothoracic surgeons and specialized nurse navigators from the Central Virginia Care System are urging veterans as well as individuals in high-risk groups to get screened for lung cancer this November, which is designated as Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

Lung cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the lungs and is among the leading causes of cancer deaths around the globe. The primary types of lung cancer are non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer, which have subtypes under them. The former type of lung cancer makes up about the majority of lung cancer cases while the latter lung cancer type makes up only a small percentage.

Small cell lung cancer tends to spread and grow faster than the other type, with research showing that it responds well to radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Other treatments include immunotherapy, surgery and targeted drug therapy. The main causes of lung cancer include smoking, second-hand smoke, family history and exposure to certain toxins.

The symptoms of this cancer include a new cough, coughing up blood, weight loss, chest pain, wheezing and shortness of breath, bone pain and frequent headaches. Data from the CDC shows that veterans probably have worse nontobacco and tobacco risk factors in comparison to the general public. Veterans also tend to smoke more, with studies finding that those who smoke have a heightened risk of being diagnosed with lung cancer. Researchers note that this risk grows as people age.

The director of bronchoscopy and interventional pulmonology at the Central Virginia Care System, Dr. Peter Lee, stated that specific racial groups were also more likely to be diagnosed with this type of cancer at an earlier age.

Survey data has also shown that only 29% of people know that lung cancer is one of the leading cancer killers in both men and women while only about 35% know that screening for lung cancer is available.

Aleks Casper, director of advocacy of the Lung Association, stated that projections have shown an estimated 5,800 individuals will be diagnosed with this type of cancer this year alone, with numbers of those who will succumb to this deadly cancer being about 3,500.

Casper notes that despite these bleak estimations, there’s hope as the five-year rate of survival has grown by more than 30% in the last decade, thanks to advancements in research, treatment and lung cancer screening such as the technology developed by companies such as AnPac Bio-Medical Science Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: ANPC).

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to AnPac Bio-Medical Science Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: ANPC) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/ANPC

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