Image: Per Bernal and Real Chemistry
Supermodel-turned-online influencer, Veronica Webb and former White House chef, combat veteran, motivational speaker and star of “Kitchen Commando”, Andre Rush, are lending their voices to “Focus on Your Lungs: A Screening You Don’t Want to Miss,” a nationwide campaign developed by Merck in partnership with GO2 Foundation, Lung Cancer Research Foundation and Lung Cancer Foundation of America. The program provides education about risk factors for lung cancer, offers resources and champions prioritizing screenings as an essential means of earlier detection — and action. While “Focus on Your Lungs” calls attention to the fact less than six percent of all Americans at high risk for lung cancer got screened in 2021, it also highlights some of the disparities, such as barriers to screening and the unequal impact of lung cancer, that the Black community in particular faces.
“I wanted to be an example for others because I know the impact of lung cancer is not equal,” says Webb. “It is scary to get these screenings because you think, what if something really is wrong? But the point is, if something is wrong, you could catch it.” Webb experienced the devastating impact of lung cancer when her mother had a scare. “If this happened to my mom, who never smoked, it could happen to me,” says Webb. Her mother’s diagnosis pushed Webb to get screened via low-dose CT scan, a painless, non-invasive scan that may help detect the disease earlier, before experiencing symptoms.
Yearly screenings may protect your health
Chef Andre Rush seconds the importance of early detection and screenings. In 2016, Rush lost his older brother, Ricky, to the disease. “Growing up, nobody taught us the importance of getting screened, or even the subject of cancer. It was not acknowledged, even though smoking was prevalent around us. And I think the same goes for today. We need to be talking to each other, speaking up for each other, and educating each other,” he says. “That is why I am encouraging everyone to talk to their doctor about lung cancer screening if they think they are at risk. And if you are not going to do it for you, do it for your loved ones.”
In the U.S., it is recommended that adults between 50-80 years old who currently smoke or quit within the last 15 years and have at least a 20 pack-year smoking history* should get an annual lung cancer screening (click here to take a short quiz to see if you may be eligible for screening). But it is important that you speak with your doctor if you think you may be at risk or experiencing symptoms.
For the Black community, the probability of diagnosis is 1 in 16 for Black men and 1 in 21 for Black women. In addition, according to data from 2013-2019, the 5-year survival rate, meaning the percentage of people alive five years after diagnosis, for White Americans with lung cancer was 25.4%, compared to 22.6% for Black Americans. Increased screenings may help change these numbers.
Visit FocusOnYourLungs.com to learn more. You can also download educational resources, such as a screening center locator, fact sheets and insurance guides for support.
*A pack-year equals the number of packs of cigarettes a person smoked per day, multiplied by the number of years they smoked. For example, a person with 20 pack-years could have smoked 1 pack a day for 20 years, or 2 packs a day for 10 years, or half a pack a day for 40 years, etc.