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American Lung Association Calls For Increased Radon Testing In Pennsylvania

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The American Lung Association is calling for increased radon testing in Pennsylvania. Exposure to the naturally occurring, odorless, tasteless gas is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Pennsylvania buildings are prone to radon contamination; an estimated 40% of homes in the state have high levels of the gas, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

In its 2023 annual State of Lung Cancer report, the American Lung Association ranked Pennsylvania poorly among other states for its radon levels.

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"While most people think lung cancer is something that happens because of smoking, radon exposure, poor air quality, and genetics all play into that," said Aimee VanCleave, an advocacy director with the American Lung Association in Pennsylvania.

People can protect themselves by testing for radon in homes and buildings, and by installing mitigation systems if radon levels are high. However, VanCleave said public schools in Pennsylvania do not test for radon as frequently as they should, and she calls for legislation to improve testing statewide. Several times over the past decade, legislation requiring radon testing in Pennsylvania schools has stalled.

According to a 2018 study by Healthy Schools PA, only 31% of surveyed schools in the state tested for radon.

"We're sending our children to a place where we don't know if they are being exposed to radon, because it's naturally occurring, but it is colorless, odorless, and tasteless," VanCleave said.

In a statement, a spokesman for the state's Department of Education said the Shapiro administration "strongly encourages" all schools to test for radon, and take advantage of resources offered by the DEP to ensure the safety of students and staff.

Residents can test for radon in their homes by purchasing a kit from a hardware store, which ranges from $20 to $30, according to the DEP. The agency offers advice through its radon hotline for residents concerned about exposure.

The American Lung Association also highlighted some positive trends in Pennsylvania. The study found the state's lung cancer survival rates have increased, mirroring improved screenings, medical technology, and treatments. However, lung cancer still is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the state, and nationwide.

Racial disparities within the healthcare system also were highlighted in the report. Asian and Pacific Islander residents in Pennsylvania are less likely to receive an early diagnosis of lung cancer, according to the American Lung Association.

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Donna Thompson of Havertown, is a non-smoker who was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2015. Thompson, who now advocates for patients, said her cancer was found during a visit to the emergency room for chest pain. She said she previously was prescribed asthma medication for her shortness of breath.

Thompson recommends that people seek out physicians they trust, ask questions, and listen to and take care of their bodies. She also calls for increased public awareness events about lung cancer.

"Do you remember there was a time when no one wanted to say they had breast cancer?" Thompson said. "Let's [speak out about] lung cancer, so people know they matter and let's try to do whatever we can to catch it early."

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Should You Be Screened For Lung Cancer Based On New Guidelines For High-risk Patients?

The American Cancer Society (ACS) has announced new guidelines for lung cancer screenings.

Published in the ACS journal "CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians" on Wednesday, the advisory reconsiders those who are at high risk for developing lung cancer and which individuals should be screened each year.

The ACS now recommends annual low-dose CT scans for people aged 50 to 80 who have a 20+ pack-year history of smoking, which was previously set at 30.

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A pack year is equivalent to smoking one pack, or about 20 cigarettes, per day for one year, according to ACS.

This correlates to a person smoking one pack a day for 20 years, or two packs a day for 10 years.

The ACS recommendation for lung cancer screening age has increased from 55 to 74 years old — to 50 to 80 years old. (iStock)

The number of years since quitting smoking is no longer a qualifier for beginning or discontinuing annual screenings.

This means people who have reached 15 years of being smoke-free will not lose their screening eligibility, as lung cancer risk will still rise with increasing age, the ACS emphasized.

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"That means a person who used to smoke with at least a 20 pack-year history, whether they quit yesterday or 20 years ago, is considered to have a high risk for developing lung cancer and should be recommended for a yearly LDCT scan if they don't have a serious health problem that will likely limit how long they will live, or if they won't be able to or won't want to get treatment if lung cancer is found," the ACS wrote on its website.

Lung cancer accounts for one in five of all cancer deaths in the United States, according to the ACS. (iStock)

The screening age widened from the previous 55-to-74-year range — broadening eligibility to about five million more people.

The ACS advised those considering screening to practice shared decision-making with a health care professional and to discuss the purpose and function of screenings.

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Providers and patients should also discuss the benefits, limitations and harms of LDCT screenings.

The organization also encouraged people who still smoke to seek smoking cessation counseling and consult available resources.

ACS encouraged people who still smoke to seek cessation counseling and to consult available resources. (iStock)

The new guidelines aim to reduce lung cancer deaths in the U.S., where more people die from the disease than from colon, breast and prostate cancers combined.

Lung cancer can be treated successfully if it's detected at an early stage when the cancer is still small and hasn't spread, according to the ACS.

"The whole objective … is to capture as many high-risk patients in that population as possible to have an impact."

Mark Dylewski, M.D., chief of thoracic surgery at Miami Cancer Institute, suggested that these guidelines will "probably be flexible over time" as cancer epidemiology is further reviewed, he shared with Fox News Digital in an email.

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"The U.S. Preventative Services Taskforce is following the epidemiology of lung cancer in the United States and is motivated to identify the highest risk factors in the largest patient population, so they can influence or guide the patients in making the decision to obtain a screening study," he said. 

Lung cancer can be treated successfully if it's detected at an early stage when the cancer is still small and hasn't spread, according to the ACS. (iStock)

Dylewsi assumed the changes were likely spurred by recognizing a larger population of early lung cancer cases in younger patients.

This could also be the reason for the reduction of a 30 pack-year to 20, due to a "significant increased risk in that population," he added.

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"The whole objective with studies like this is to capture as many high-risk patients in that population as possible to have an impact," he said.

"Overall, across the United States, we are seeing a reduction in the incidence of lung cancer due to many reasons, including patients smoking less frequently and increased community awareness and education."

For more Health articles, visit www.Foxnews.Com/health.

Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle writer for Fox News Digital.

Pope Says He Has Lung Inflammation, Aide Reads Sunday Message For Him

VATICAN CITY, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Pope Francis, suffering from a "lung inflammation", appeared seated in the chapel of his residence instead of in St. Peter's Square while an aide read the pontiff's Sunday message.

The 86-year-old pope, wearing his traditional white robes and with a bandage on his right hand, remained seated next to the aide during the reading.

"Dear brothers and sisters. Happy Sunday. Today, I cannot appear at the window because I have this problem of an inflammation in the lungs," Francis said.

Francis went to a Rome hospital on Saturday for a scan that the Vatican said had ruled out lung complications after a bout of flu forced him to cancel activities.

The Vatican provided no explanation for the apparent difference between its statement on Saturday and what the pope said on Sunday.

One part of one of the pope's lungs was removed when Francis was a young man in his native Argentina.

Francis introduced the priest, Father Paolo Braida, who went on to read the pope's Sunday message based on the Gospel. Francis coughed several times during the reading.

Pope Francis speaks during the weekly general audience, at the Vatican, November 22, 2023. Vatican Media/­Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights

The pope delivered a blessing and Braida read the rest of message, including appeals for peace in Ukraine, thanks for the release of some hostages in Gaza and confirmation of the pope's intention to travel to Dubai on Friday to attend the U.N. Climate change conference.

Francis ended with his traditional closing remarks: "I wish everyone a good Sunday. Please do not forget to pray for me. Have a good lunch and see you next time."

The event was broadcast on giant screens to the crowds gathered in the square.

"We were under the window where he was supposed to appear but then he didn't show up," said tourist Francesco Sinisgalli from Potenza in southern Italy. "I am a bit (disappointed) but in my soul he is always there."

Staying in the residence spared the pope from going outside for the short journey to the Apostolic Palace on what was a particularly cold Rome morning for the end of November.

He would have had to get in a car, be driven to a courtyard and take an elevator to the top floor of the palace to reach the window overlooking St. Peter's Square.

Earlier this month Francis skipped reading a prepared speech for a meeting with European rabbis because he had a cold, but he appeared to be in good health during a meeting with children hours later that day.

In June he had surgery on an abdominal hernia, spending nine days in hospital. He appears to have recovered fully from that operation.

Additional reporting by Gavin Jones, Fabiano Franchitti, Roberto Minucci and Jaime Lopez, Editing by David Goodman and Nick Macfie

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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