November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and the disease hits close to home for many residents.

Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in Beaufort County, according to Dr. John Inzerillo, with Vidant Beaufort Hospital and the Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center.

There were about 222,500 new cases of lung cancer in the United States this year and 155,870 deaths from the disease, according to data from the American Cancer Society.

Inzerillo said the biggest risk factor continues to be cigarette smoking, and quitting dramatically reduces a person’s risk of cancer. He said patients should be knowledgeable about their eligibility for lung cancer screening.

Doctors are now increasingly using a low-dose CT scan to catch lung cancer, according to Inzerillo. He said when studied in a trial of 3,000 people, utilizing a low-dose CT scan once a year for three years led to a 20-percent less chance of patients dying, when compared to the chest X-ray method.

“The cancers were found earlier, at an earlier stage,” he explained. “The issue is how do we find lung cancer earlier?”

Patients who have a 30-pack-year history of smoking and who are between the ages of 55 and 74 may be eligible for a low-dose CT scan. A 30-pack-year history means a person either smoked a pack a day for 30 years, or two packs a day for 15 years.

To be eligible for a screening, Inzerillo said the patient must have also smoked on this scale within the last 15 years, and be clear of any other lung diseases.

“It’s not a blanket that everybody should be screened for lung cancer,” Inzerillo said. “This is not to replace discontinuation (of smoking). Just because you’re screening does not mean you’re safe.”

Washington-area doctors began using the low-dose CT technique just a few years ago, and Inzerillo said it has shown some success. However, the best life-saving technique is to quit smoking before it’s too late.

Inzerillo offered some tips for those looking to quit:

• Set a date in the future and get it in your mind to quit.
• Encourage other smokers in the home to quit, too.
• Visit the National Cancer Institute website to communicate with a counselor during the process of quitting.
• Consider over-the-counter options such as Nicorette gum and patches, or consult a doctor about taking Chantax or Wellbutrin.

“We do catch some early lung cancers,” he said. “All they need to do is bring it up to their doctor.”