November brings awareness to lung cancer and the importance of screening

LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) - Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, and November is dedicated to raising awareness about the disease.

The American Cancer Society estimates that 125,000 Americans die from lung cancer each year, including many who have never smoked.

Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith presented a proclamation in honor of Julie Thomas, who lost her battle with lung cancer. Her brother, Mike Vollmar, shared her story to encourage others to get screened for the deadly disease.

“Lung cancer, if it’s caught early, can be very well treated. But the thing is, if it’s not caught early, it’s a very aggressive cancer and it happens very quickly. So the more we can get people that are eligible for screening to do that, the better,” said Vollmar.

The second Saturday in November is National Lung Cancer Screening Day. Both Lima Memorial Health System and Mercy Health-St. Rita’s can provide low-dose CT scans.

More information about the procedure is available on their websites under cancer care.