To beat back the occurrences of lung cancer, people around the world observe World Lung Cancer Day in August of each year. The mission is simple – raising as much awareness of lung cancer as possible and encouraging people to screen themselves for it.

World Tuberculosis Day is an awareness day aimed at educating the public about the impact of TB around the world.  CDC, along with our partners and colleagues around the world share successes in TB prevention and control and raise awareness of the challenges that hinder our progress toward the elimination of this devastating disease.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Week, observed this March 13th to 19th, aims to raise awareness about the severity of pulmonary diseases, offer treatment options, and celebrate the recovery of those with those illnesses. These life-enhancing programs show patients how they can live well despite chronic lung disease and, increasingly, they are being credited with keeping patients healthy and out of the costly acute care setting.

Radon is estimated to cause around 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States every year and is the second leading cause of lung cancer, according to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can get trapped in homes and buildings and expose the people who live and work inside, increasing their risk of developing lung cancer later in life. This risk is even higher among those who smoke cigarettes.

Quitting smoking isn’t easy. It takes time. And a plan. You don’t have to stop smoking in one day. Start with day one. Let the Great American Smokeout every third Thursday in November be your day to start your journey toward a smoke-free life. You’ll be joining thousands of people who smoke across the country in taking an important step toward a healthier life and reducing your cancer risk.