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Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano

 
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Lung Cancer Awareness 

 

John Janowski was on vacation when he noticed two lumps on the side of his neck. He came home early to have it checked it out.

At Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, John underwent a biopsy and was diagnosed with cancer in the lymph nodes and on the back of his tongue. Later, John was also diagnosed with lung cancer. After a radical neck dissection, which removed most of the cancer, John went through 37 radiation treatments followed by three months of chemotherapy.

“I knew I was in good hands at Baylor Plano,” he says. “The staff has this huge professionalism, this great passion for what they are doing. You can feel that in every aspect within the Baylor system.” John has been cancer free for over four years. “Baylor Plano helped me fight & WIN against stage IV throat and lung cancer,” says John.

November marks National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, designed to increase awareness of lung cancer issues. According to the Lung Cancer Alliance, lung cancer kills more people each year than breast, prostate, colon and pancreas cancers combined. While smoking can lead to lung cancer, more than 60% of people diagnosed with lung cancer have never smoked or quit smoking decades prior to their diagnosis.

To help raise awareness of lung cancer in the community Baylor Plano will host a free seminar on lung disease. Breathe Easier – Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Seminar: Wednesday, November 23 from 12 to 1 p.m. in Education Center 1 on the Garden Level of Baylor Plano. Gary Erwin, M.D., pulmonologist on the Baylor Plano medical staff will serve as presenter. Lunch will be provided. Register here or call 1.800.4BAYLOR.

Lung Cancer Facts

According to the Lung Cancer Alliance:

  • Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in every ethnic group.
  • Lung cancer is the second leading cause of all deaths in the United States.
  • There were an estimated 157,300 lung cancer related deaths in 2010.
  • Lung cancer kills nearly 200 women each day.
  • The survival rate for those with lung cancer between 1999 and 2006 was 15.8%.
  • The low survival rate for lung cancer is due to few cases being diagnosed at early stages when cancer is most curable. 56% of lung cancers are diagnosed when the cancer has already mestastasized to other sites.