10 Dec, 2025
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10 Dec, 2025
This article is medically reviewed by Dr. Mallikarjun, Consultant - Pulmonology, HCG Cancer Centre, K. R. Road, Bangalore.
Lung cancer awareness month, which is sometimes referred to as lung cancer month, is a month dedicated to raising awareness about lung cancer, its prevention, and early detection.
Now, the next question is, “When is lung cancer awareness month observed?” It is observed in November.
During lung cancer awareness month 2025, healthcare bodies and hospitals across the world actively work towards shedding light on the impact of lung cancer on people and society at large to educate individuals on how they can reduce their lung cancer risk, identify the symptoms early enough, and learn what treatments are accessible.
Lung cancer awareness plays a critical role in reducing the spread of fallacies and misconceptions, eventually promoting informed decision-making among individuals.
Lung cancer awareness campaigns on the signs and symptoms of lung cancer promote early physician consultations, which prompt early diagnosis and timely interventions.
A lung cancer diagnosis is often stigmatized due to the belief that it is a self-inflicted consequence of the controllable behavior of smoking. However, smoking is not the only cause of lung cancer, and there are other non-modifiable or uncontrollable risk factors, too.
The purpose of World Lung Cancer Awareness Month is to address these false beliefs by stressing that every victim must receive the care they deserve without having to face any discrimination from society.
There is no official lung cancer awareness month 2025 theme.
Throughout November, healthcare bodies and hospitals across the globe focus on various aspects of lung cancer and its management, including breaking barriers, promoting prevention and early detection, increasing accessibility to better care facilities, and supporting those touched by lung cancer in every way possible.
Read this article till the end to find out how you can contribute to raising awareness about lung cancer.
It is important to examine those who are identified as high-risk individuals. High-risk individuals are those who are associated with more than one lung cancer risk factor. These individuals can benefit from lung cancer screening that helps detect lung cancer even before it starts showing symptoms.
High-risk individuals are recommended to undergo low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scans, which may reveal any anomalies that indicate lung cancer growth. Screening is beneficial, as it eases the fears of those at risk and also serves to identify cancer at its early stage.
People who are between 50-80 years old, those who have been heavy smokers for years and are still smoking, and those who have stopped smoking after being heavy smokers for many years should go for an LDCT scan every year, as advised by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).
However, individuals who do not fall into this category but could be at risk due to family background or some other reason must talk to their specialist for appropriate guidelines on reducing their lung cancer risk or detecting it in early stages.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): This lung cancer type accounts for 80-85% of all lung cancer cases. NSCLC has a relatively slower growth rate. Its subtypes include adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large-cell carcinoma.
mall Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC): SCLC is an aggressive type of lung cancer with a faster growth rate, and it accounts for 15% of all lung cancer cases. It is more common among smokers.
The rare types include carcinoids and mesotheliomas.
In the 1990s, lung cancer groups in America saw that there should be an entire month dedicated to educating society on different aspects of lung cancer. It has now become an international event with backing from bodies like the American Lung Association as well as the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC).
This is important because, through this initiative, healthcare professionals get an opportunity to shed light on the hardships of lung cancer patients, the stigma associated with the disease, and the availability of screening facilities and healthcare resources, which can benefit the patients and their families.
Lung Cancer Awareness Month serves several key objectives:
1. Raising Public Knowledge: Teaching people what can increase the chances, signs, and symptoms that should be watched out for, and teaching them why it is important to detect it early enough.
2. Promoting Screening: Advising those who are identified as high-risk individuals to undergo screening for lung cancer because this can help them receive timely medical attention.
3. Lending Help: Providing information and assistance to those who have cancer of the lungs; this may include, but is not limited to, the sick, those taking care of them, and their relatives.
4. Fundraising for Research: Getting money from donors to sponsor clinical research and trials aimed at finding better treatment approaches that improve survival rates for pancreatic cancer patients.
According to the Globocan 2022 reports, lung cancer is the most common cancer in the world, with 2.48 million cases. It makes up 12.4% of all cancer cases. More than 1.8 million people succumb to lung cancer every year.
In India, this disease is responsible for approximately 5.8 percent of cancer cases and about 8.2 percent of cancer deaths because it is mostly detected in the advanced stage. It is the 4th most common cancer in India.
Lung cancer is not only harmful to the body but also has other effects. People suffering from lung cancer experience many difficulties, such as high costs of medical care and psychological stress, as well as hard times and side effects caused by the treatment itself.
Families and caregivers also experience severe mental distress while taking care of their loved ones.
Early detection of lung cancer is crucial for better treatment outcomes and survival rates. Noticing signs may make people act sooner. A few usual initial signs are:
These symptoms may mean something else; therefore, it is important to see a doctor when any of these symptoms occur.
Lung cancer prevention involves understanding and minimizing risk factors, making lifestyle changes, and staying informed about potential environmental hazards. The following are some of the possible ways to prevent lung cancer:
Smoking contributes to a large percentage of lung cancer cases. To lower the chances of getting lung cancer, there is only one sure way: stop smoking.
To quit smoking, individuals can seek help from support groups, counseling, nicotine replacement therapy, etc.
Prolonged exposure to certain air pollutants and work pollutants like asbestos, radon, and diesel fumes can increase one’s chances of developing lung cancer.
Lung cancer prevention measures, such as maintaining good ventilation, ensuring that your employer adheres to the labor protection protocols at the workplace, which may involve the use of safety gear, gloves, masks, etc., and monitoring the level of radon at home, can help reduce the risk of lung cancer through occupational exposure.
Eating well and exercising regularly make a person strong and healthy. It also improves immunity so that the body can fight diseases. Some fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants that minimize inflammation and promote better respiratory functions. Also, exercises improve breathing while helping one stay in shape and less susceptible to cancer.
You can support Lung Cancer Awareness Month through various means, each contributing to the larger goal of increased awareness, research funding, and patient support.
HCG Cancer Centre, a leading cancer hospital in India, organizes several awareness talks, panel discussions, awareness drives, and more across the country during November. For more updates, we recommend you follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
From answering the question, “November is what cancer awareness month?” to providing insights on what one can do to promote lung cancer awareness, this article has covered some critical aspects about Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
Lung Cancer Awareness Month plays a significant role in facilitating lung cancer education, ending discrimination against lung cancer patients, and encouraging healthy living across the globe. Although lung cancer is still a very serious illness, awareness campaigns give optimism and encourage society to mobilize itself; this may prevent many deaths and fatalities, as well as promote prevention, timely diagnosis, and research funding aids.
Through regular awareness campaigns and involvement, we can help out and stand by those fighting lung cancer and take our society one step closer to victory over lung cancer.
Dr. Mallikarjun
Consultant - Pulmonology
MBBS, DTCD, DNB (Pulmonary Medicine)
Dr. Mallikarjun is an extensively trained interventional pulmonologist and sleep medicine specialist. Along with his exemplary academic credentials, he has also completed his fellowship training in interventional pulmonology from Yashoda Hospitals (Secunderabad) and smoking cessation training from Gujarat University (Ahmedabad). He can be consulted at HCG Cancer Centre, K.R. Road, a leading cancer hospital in Bangalore. His expertise includes tumor debulking, indwelling pleural catheter insertion, ICD insertion/managing malignant pleural effusion, bronchoscopy, biopsy, EBUS/TBNA, thoracoscopy, rigid bronchoscopy, airway stenting, and lung transplant evaluation.
Dr. Mallikarjun also provides specialized care for managing symptoms and complications related to lung cancer, such as palliative treatments for advanced-stage cancer and addressing pulmonary complications caused by certain cancer treatments.
Appointment Link: Book an Appointment with Dr. Mallikarjun.
