LUNG DISEASE
Every year, close to 361,000 Americans die of lung disease.
Lung disease is America's 3rd largest killer, responsible for 1 in 7
deaths.
Lung disease is not only a killer, most lung disease is
chronic. More than 25 million Americans are now living with chronic
lung disease.
The association between smoking and lung cancer has been
studied extensively and is well established. Eighty-seven percent of
lung cancer cases are attributable to cigarette smoking, and smokers
are 22 times more likely to die from lung cancer than nonsmokers. .
Smoking cessation was associated with a reduction in the
risk of all the major histological types of lung cancer.
ORAL CANCER
Approximately 30,OOO new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed
in the U.S. each year and about 9000 people die from oral cancer each
year.
The average 5-Year survival rate of patients with oral
cancer is about 50 percent. This is primarily due to late detection.
The primary causes for oral cancer are tobacco products,
alcohol, and particularly the combination of heavy tobacco and alcohol
use.
Smokeless tobacco use may increase the risk for oral cancer
four times. Approximately 12 million Americans use smokeless tobacco,
and use is increasing, especially among young males.
One study assesses the current annual dollar cost of oral
cancer treatment in the U.S. to be $3.7 billion.
Warning Signs:
· A mouth sore that bleeds easily or fails to
heal
· A lump, thickening or soreness in the mouth, throat or tongue
· soreness or swelling that doesn't go away
· A white or red patch in the mouth that doesn't go away
Difficulty in chewing, swallowing or moving your tongue or jaw.
