L. Wesley Aldred, MD, Discusses Lung Cancer Awareness
L. Wesley Aldred, MD, FACP, a physician at Hattiesburg Clinic Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care Medicine, spoke with WDAM regarding lung cancer and its impact on Mississippians.
Sadly, our state has the third highest death rate and the fourth highest rate of new cases in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, Mississippi consistently ranks among the states with the highest lung cancer rates. Because symptoms present themselves at a very late stage of the disease, Aldred says early screening is the best way to decrease rates of death due to lung cancer.
“About 50% of [cases], nationwide, are diagnosed when they’re widely metastatic. [The survival rate] at that time is about 5% at five years.” Aldred went on to say that only about 20% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed early, and an early diagnosis could increase that five-year survival rate up to 60%.
Screening is recommended for those who:
- Are aged 50-80
- Have a smoking history equal to one pack per day for the last 20 years
- Are currently smoking or have quit within the past 15 years
Follow the link to read the full article and watch the interview: https://www.wdam.com/2023/11/26/november-is-lung-cancer-awareness-month/
