As we wrap up Lung Cancer Awareness Month, raising awareness about lung cancer and advocating for its prevention, early detection, and treatment is important. Lung cancer is prevalent – with 23,340 new cases and 127,070 deaths this year in the United States.1 As we join the global community in supporting this important cause, let’s explore a lesser-known but significant aspect – the role of air purification in promoting lung health and potentially reducing the risk of respiratory issues, including lung cancer.
Understanding Lung Cancer: A Silent Threat
Lung cancer is a serious issue, often remaining asymptomatic until it reaches advanced stages. Smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke, and environmental pollutants are known risk factors.2 According to the National Cancer Institute, smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, but non-smokers can develop it too.3 However, there’s an emerging understanding of how the air we breathe daily, both indoors and outdoors, can impact lung health.
Screening for Lung Cancer
Screening is looking for cancer before a person has any symptoms. Screening is an important part of preventing lung cancer, or catching it at an early stage before it gets too bad. When cancerous tissue is found early, it is easier to treat. And because lung cancer is often asymptomatic, it can spread before a person notices any symptoms.
However, it is not well-understood who is most susceptible to lung cancer. Behavior and environment can provide some insight, but it is still important to get screened even if you do not suspect you have cancer.
Treatment Options
There are five types of lung cancer treatment:
- Surgery: Doctors cut out the cancer tissue.
- Chemotherapy: Special medicines are used to shrink or kill cancer.
- Radiation Therapy: High-energy rays (like X-rays) are used to kill cancer.
- Targeted Therapy: Drugs are used to block growth or spread of cancer. These drugs can either be given in pill form or through IV.
- Immunotherapy: This is a relatively new method in which a medicine uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer.
The Link Between Air Quality and Lung Health
Poor air quality can contribute to respiratory issues and may increase the risk of lung cancer. Common indoor pollutants, like particulate matter, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and airborne toxins can compromise air quality and potentially harm our lungs over time.
Air Purification: A Guardian for Lung Health
One proactive step toward lung health is investing in an air purifier. Air purifiers filter out particles and pollutants, ensuring the air we breathe is clean and safe.
Austin Air has long been committed to creating environments that support respiratory wellness. Our air purifiers are equipped with advanced HEPA and carbon filters, designed to capture particulate matter, allergens, and other airborne toxins. For people navigating lung cancer, maintaining clean indoor air is an important step toward enhanced comfort and well-being.
How Austin Air Makes a Difference:
- HEPA Filtration: Austin Air purifiers use true, medical-grade HEPA filters capable of trapping particles as small as 0.1 microns, effectively removing common allergens, bacteria, and viruses.
- Activated Carbon Filtration: The activated carbon in Austin Air purifiers helps neutralize chemicals and gasses, providing an added layer of defense against carcinogens.
- Medical-Grade Filtration: Austin Air purifiers are trusted by hospitals and healthcare facilities, attesting to their efficacy in creating clean and safe environments.
- Clinically Proven: Austin Air purifiers are the ONLY clinically proven, medical-grade air purifiers. In six separate clinical trials, Austin Air had six successful outcomes.
Taking Action: Lung Cancer Awareness and Indoor Air Quality
As we unite in the fight against lung cancer this November, let’s extend our advocacy to the air we breathe. Promoting awareness about the impact of air quality and lung health and the role of air purification solutions, like those from Austin Air, is a meaningful step toward supporting those affected by lung cancer and lung disease.
Lung Cancer Awareness Month is a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by individuals and families touched by this disease. Beyond traditional avenues of support, addressing the quality of indoor air through trusted solutions like Austin Air purifiers can significantly contribute to the well-being of those navigating lung cancer. Let’s breathe hope into every home, ensuring clean air becomes an ally in the battle for lung health.
REFERENCES
1 Lung Cancer Statistics (29 January 2023). American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/lung-cancer/about/key-statistics.html.
2 Lung cancer – Symptoms and causes. (30 April 2023). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lung-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20374620.
3 Lung Cancer Prevention. (26 July 2023). National Cancer Institute. https://www.cancer.gov/types/lung/patient/lung-prevention-pdq.
