Mercy offers Nov. 17 'Save Your Lungs' event at Lindale Mall

November is both Lung Cancer Awareness Month and COPD Awareness Month. Lung cancer and COPD (chronic obstructive lung disease) account for two of the leading causes of death in the United States. In fact, more people die from lung cancer than colon, breast and prostate cancers combined.

Mercy Medical Center is holding a Save your Lungs event at Lindale Mall on November 17 from 3 to 7 p.m.  This event will provide education on both lung cancer and COPD and provide free screening to determine your lung age and risk factors for COPD.

COPD

COPD is actually a group of diseases which include emphysema and chronic bronchitis. COPD kills more than 120,000 Americans each year - that's one death every 4 minutes. Although smoking rates have tapered, new cases of COPD are rising.

Like lung cancer, COPD causes debilitating disease and long-term lifestyle changes, including shortness of breath. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recommends four steps you can take to help control COPD:

• Be aware of the risk factors
• Recognize the symptoms
• Ask your doctor or health care provider about a simple breathing test
• Follow the treatment advice offered by your health care provider 

At Mercy's Save Your Lungs event on November 17, a breathing test will be offered. Participants will be given a card with their lung age. Unlike the age of your body, your lungs may age at a different rate, depending on your lifestyle choices and risk factors. While you may have a birth age of 34, your lung age may be 46. There are things you can do to change your lung age and continue to have a healthy, active life.

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with more than 80 percent of those cases attributed to tobacco use. In addition to tobacco use, exposure to asbestos, radon, and other environmental toxins may also cause lung cancer.

For the past several years, there has been a trend of new cases of lung cancer occurring with few risk factors.  Research is exploring these cases and the role of family history and genetics in the prevalence of lung cancer.  A major challenge in the fight against lung cancer is that 75 percent of new lung cancer diagnoses are in advanced stages, which affects survival rates.

More than two years ago, Mercy started a weekly lung cancer conference that brings health care providers together to review new cases and treatment options.  Mercy has added new technologies in the Hall-Perrine Cancer Center, such as a CT scanner with 3D capabilities for lung nodule images and a Super Dimension Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy to help improve accuracy of diagnosis. But, the best thing we can do in the battle against cancer is help people to quit using tobacco.

The Great American Smoke Out (GASO) was established in 1977 as a way to encourage smokers to join with support groups and quit smoking tobacco. Since its inception, the GASO encouraged smokers to put down their cigarettes and utilize options to help them quit and stay quit.

Plan to Attend

Smoking cessation education will be provided at the Save Your Lungs event, including tools and information to help a smoker understand the link between smoking and nicotine addiction.  Mercy's own certified smoking cessation educator, Dawn Sabin, will be present to discuss the latest techniques to help smokers quit. In addition, Dr. Erin Casey, medical oncologist at Oncology Associates at Mercy, will be speaking on the link between smoking and lung cancer and the influence radon has on the incidence of lung cancer. Dr. Nicholas Hodgeman, cardiologist at Cedar Rapids Heart Center, will be discussing the link between tobacco use and heart disease, and Curt Wheeler, prevention specialist from Linn County Public Health will be sharing the latest information on the new dissolvable tobacco products.

Please plan to attend Mercy's

Save Your Lungs event at Lindale Mall on November 17, from 3 to 7 p.m., and get yourself on the road to better health.