Caring for your lungs

Your lungs carry your breath, and your breath carries your stories.

Stay here for a while to learn about how to keep your lungs healthy.

Your lung health

The single most important behavior that can reduce lung cancer risk is quitting smoking

The lungs can be disturbed by harmful substances. Gathered here is some information regarding lung cancer and its risk factors. Take what knowledge may help you, and leave the rest.

You can start small: learn the basics first, then decide what to do next.

Learn more about screenings

If you want a simple starting point, screening basics explains what the scan is and what a visit can feel like.

Lung screening, step by step

What is lung cancer?
  • Lung cancer is a disease where cancer cells form in the lungs.
  • Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States.
  • Smoking is the leading cause of death and disability from lung disease.
  • In the last decade, the rates of lung cancer and lung cancer deaths have gone down as more US adults have stopped smoking and treatments have improved.
Your chances of getting lung cancer can increase from…
  • Smoking now or smoking in the past.
  • Second-hand smoke over a long period of time.
  • Long-term exposure to radon, an invisible and odorless gas that can build up in basements and homes with poor ventilation.
  • Hazardous chemicals and pollutants through worksites like ferry docks, construction sites, factories, nail salons.

Of note: Vaping and e-cigarette devices contain cancer-causing substances. These products are relatively new and thus lack longitudinal research evidence linking them to lung cancer.

Visit: CDC: E-Cigarettes 

Learn more about lung health

GO2 for Lung Cancer 

  • Support and resources for patients, survivors, and caregivers.

Indian Health Service: Cancer Prevention 

  • Health information on cancer prevention and staying well.

Fred Hutch: Lung Cancer Screening & Diagnosis 

  • What screening involves, how diagnosis works, and what care can look like after.

Choose a step that feels right today

You don't have to do all of this at once. Pick the one that feels right to you.

It’s okay to pause.

You can go back and choose a different path later.