BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., has signed a proclamation to raise awareness on lung cancer in the commonwealth, naming November "Lung Cancer Awareness Month" to remind people to get screened. 

What You Need To Know

  • New findings suggest nearly 85 per 100,000 Kentuckians are diagnosed with lung cancer 

  • That ranks Kentucky as one of the nation's worst states for lung cancer rates 

  • Norton Healthcare oncologist Adam Lye said smoking is a significant contributing factor  

  • People with a habit of smoking should get screened, he added 

The American Lung Association released new statistics for how lung cancer has affected Kentuckians. Lung cancer diagnoses in Kentucky are significantly higher than the national average, placing it among the states with the highest rates. 

“The nation’s average is about 53-56 per 100,000 people,” said Irene Li, Med Center Health radiation oncologist. 

Li said some symptoms for lung cancer include a consistent cough and shortage of breath. Adam Lye, Norton Healthcare oncologist, added smoking has contributed to Kentucky’s high rate of lung cancer. 

“Roughly 20% of Kentuckians smoke,” Lye said. “I think the national average is around 13%.”

Vaping and electronic cigarettes could cause an increase in lung cancer rates among younger Kentuckians, Li said. 

“There’s a lot of chemicals in that that no one knows a lot about,” Li said. “We have significant concerns that there will be a strong link with vaping-associated cancer development.”

Both doctors suggested staying away from those products and said people with a habit of smoking should get screened. 

“Talk to their primary care about smoking cessation, as well as getting a CT screening for lung nodules,” Li said. 

Visit Med Center Health’s website for more information on the Lung Nodule Program. 

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