Lung Cancer Day: NOA urges early screening, healthy living

On World Lung Cancer Day, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) is urging Nigerians to embrace healthy lifestyles, avoid smoking, and undergo regular medical check-ups. The agency also called for support for individuals living with lung cancer as part of its awareness campaign.

Observed annually on August 1st, World Lung Cancer Day focuses on raising awareness about the disease, promoting early diagnosis, and advocating for improved access to treatment and care. Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, and health experts emphasize that early detection significantly improves survival rates.

The NOA highlighted that lung cancer affects both smokers and non-smokers, stressing the importance of lung health. "Every breath is precious. Our lungs work tirelessly-processing thousands of breaths each day to keep us alive and well. Yet lung cancer remains one of the world’s deadliest diseases, affecting millions of people every year," the agency stated in a social media post.

This year's theme, "Together through lung cancer," emphasizes connection, compassion, and hope, aiming to ensure everyone has access to early screening, accurate diagnosis, advanced treatment, and supportive care. The NOA noted that public awareness about lung cancer symptoms, causes, and prevention remains low despite its prevalence.

Beyond cigarette smoking, the agency identified other risk factors for lung cancer. These include passive smoking, air pollution, exposure to asbestos and occupational chemicals, radon gas exposure, previous radiation therapy to the chest, and a family history of the disease. Common warning signs mentioned by the NOA are a persistent cough lasting over three weeks, coughing up blood, chest pain, shortness of breath, recurrent chest infections, hoarseness of voice, and loss of appetite.

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Every breath is precious. Our lungs work tirelessly-processing thousands of breaths each day to keep us alive and well. Yet lung cancer remains one of the world’s deadliest diseases, affecting millions of people every year.