WILMINGTON — CMH Regional Health System is teaming up with the American Cancer Society to celebrate the Great American Smokeout, a nationwide event aimed at helping people to quit smoking.
On Thursday, Nov. 17 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., CMH will provide a “cold turkey” special in the cafeteria, free to community members who commit to quit smoking. Quitters will be invited to sign pledge cards to reinforce their commitment and will receive information on quitting and the recovery process.
Year-to-date at Foster J. Boyd, MD Region Cancer Center, lung cancer cases have outstripped breast cancer cases. Dr. Mark Collins, Director of Medical Oncology at the cancer center, spoke to the increase in lung cancer cases.
“Typically, breast cancer is your most commonly treated cancer at a facility like ours,” he said. “To see lung cancer — and particularly, late-stage lung cancers — outpace breast cancer, is unusual and alarming. Lung cancer is highly preventable, and at least 70 percent of lung cancers can be attributed to smoking alone.
“I’m doing everything I can with our team here to help educate community members on the dangers of smoking and provide real resources for quitting. We cannot let this trend continue.”
The recently completed Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), commissioned by HealthFirst Clinton County, found lung cancer to be by far the leading cause of cancer death in Clinton County, with an age-adjusted death rate (2004 – 2013 annual average deaths per 100,000 population) to be 69.4, well above the state death rate of 56.4 and the US death rate of 48.6. Clinton County’s incidence rate of lung cancer (Annual Average Age-Adjusted Incidence of New Cases, per 100,000 Population, 2007-2011) is 88.3, well above the state incidence rate of 72.4 and the US incidence rate of 64.9.
Greg Nielsen, CEO of CMH emphasized CMH’s commitment to education and prevention.
“Our responsibility as a community health system is to meet health crises head on,” Nielsen said. “Through efforts like Brake for Breakfast, we’ve been able to shine a light on early detection and treatment of breast cancer, and, according to the CHNA, these efforts are working, and our death rates of breast cancer in Clinton County are actually lower than the state average. As we see lung cancer cases climbing, we’re going to do everything we can to emphasize prevention and early detection so that we can both improve outcomes for our patients and significantly lower incidences of lung cancer in Clinton County.”
Great American Smokeout events are open to all community members who will pledge to quit smoking. Cancer center employees will assist visitors outside the cafeteria in completing a pledge card which can be shown to the cashier for the free cold turkey special.
Those who would like to show support for quitters are invited to contribute a message to the inspiration wall, which will be built throughout the month to honor those working to improve their health.
