HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-11-17 Lung Cancer Awareness Month
LUNG CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
WHEREAS, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among men and women in the United States
and Palo Alto, accounting for more deaths than colon cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer combined; and
WHEREAS, the 5-year survival rate for localized lung cancer is ~60%, yet only ~24% of lung cancers are
diagnosed at this stage; and
WHEREAS, screening for lung cancer for high-risk individuals using low-dose computed tomography can
lead to the earlier detection of lung cancer and save lives, reducing the mortality by 20% when compared to
screening by chest x-ray in the National Lung Screening Trial and reducing the risk of death at 10 years by 24%
in men and 33% in women as demonstrated by another large randomized trial; and
WHEREAS, funding for lung cancer research trails far behind funding for research of many other cancers,
and additional research is needed in early diagnosis, screening, and treatment for lung cancer as well as in lung
cancer affecting women and lung cancer health disparities; and
WHEREAS, lung cancer incidence is decreasing twice as fast in men as it is in women, each year more
women die from lung cancer than breast cancer and by 2035, more women will die from lung cancer than men;
and
WHEREAS, African Americans have the highest lung cancer incidence and mortality of all races, and
disparities in lung cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, and mortality are well characterized among African
Americans and other racial minorities; and
WHEREAS, lung cancer in individuals who never smoked is the 7th leading cause of cancer-related death
and accounts for 17,000-26,000 deaths in the US every year, 60-70% of individuals diagnosed with lung cancer
who never smoked are women, and the proportion of lung cancers diagnosed in people who never smoked is
increasing in the US; Whereas radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among individuals who never smoked
and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall; and
WHEREAS, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among individuals who never smoked and the second
leading cause of lung cancer overall; and
Proclamation
WHEREAS, the stigma surrounding lung cancer creates barriers to early diagnosis, treatment, and funding
for research, has a detrimental impact on the quality of life of people diagnosed with lung cancer, and hinders
awareness of and research into lung cancer risk factors other than smoking; and
WHEREAS, lung cancer research is leading to breakthroughs in the identification of genetic alterations
associated with lung cancer and in the development of lung cancer treatments, including immunotherapies and
targeted therapies; and
WHEREAS, organizations working in Palo Alto, such as the American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative and
Women’s Lung Cancer Forum, are committed to educating about lung cancer, lung cancer screening, and are
working to increase lung cancer screening rates in Palo Alto.
NOW, THEREFORE I, Ed Lauing, Mayor of the City of Palo Alto, do hereby proclaim November 2025 as
Lung Cancer Awareness Month in Palo Alto, and recognize the need for research in lung cancer affecting women
and lung cancer health disparities, and encourage all citizens to learn about lung cancer and early detection through
lung cancer screening.
Presented: November 17, 2025
______________________________
Ed Lauing
Mayor