Jump to full article: Cherokee Phoenix, 2008-11-20
Author: Jami Custer Staff Writer
Intro: TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and the Cherokee Nation and some area health facilities are doing what they can to help fight the disease and what causes it.
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer found in both men (after prostate cancer) and women (after breast cancer). It accounts for about 15 percent of all new cancers, according to www.cancer.org.
"I think the awareness of letting people know the effects of commercial tobacco is very harmful to our people (is important)," said June Maher, CN Tobacco Prevention coordinator. "We (Native Americans) do have a high rate of cancer in these areas and not just lung cancer; it could be any kind of cancer."
One of the leading causes of lung cancer is smoking, and Nov. 20 is an excellent day to start quitting since as part of the Great American Smokeout. . . .
Earlier this year, the tribe put into action a tobacco-free policy at all CN governmental properties. The Nation offers smoking cessation classes and works with schools in the area by developing Students Working Against Tobacco teams in an effort to discourage smoking.
"Cherokee Nation Health Services is committed to reducing cancer rates in the Cherokee Nation," said Dr. Gloria Grim, CN medical director. "The Cherokee Nation Comprehensive Cancer Coalition is one of the first tribal programs to complete a cancer prevention plan and begin implementation of the plan."
CN was also recently recognized for its work in cancer control.
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