It seems as if you can’t go anywhere without seeing a pink ribbon. We would venture to say that 99% of people who see those pink ribbons know exactly what they mean. They are a symbol of hope & awareness for those who have suffered from breast cancer. Unfortunately, not many people know that a white/pearl ribbon stands for lung cancer awareness. Even fewer would know that more there are women diagnosed with this disease than those diagnosed with breast cancer.
It is not commonly known that lung cancer is actually responsible for more deaths among women each year than breast cancer is. Out of 100,000 women who are diagnosed annually with breast cancer, 22 of them will lose their battle. Lung cancer claims the lives of 38 of 100,000 women diagnosed annually. The majority of women do not even know how prevalent the disease is, or that lung cancer’s mortality rate is higher.
Lung cancer is often disregarded, mainly because many believe it is a “smoker’s disease”. In reality, the American Lung Association indicates that women who don’t smoke are actually at just as much risk for lung cancer as those who do smoke.
This is because lung cancer is not just a dangerous side effect of smoking. Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer. It is responsible for over 20,000 new cases of lung cancer each year. The EPA estimates that 1 in 15 homes have detectable levels of radon. This odorless, tasteless, invisible gas comes from the earth and mixes with the air we breathe. The higher the level of radon exposure, the greater the risk for a lung cancer diagnosis in both women & men.
While we are not downplaying the lasting effects breast cancer can leave on its victims, we would like to bring more awareness to the dangers of lung cancer. Having your home tested for radon could greatly decrease your chances of radon exposure that leads to lung cancer.
Did you know that lung cancer kills more women each year than breast cancer?
