Addressing the lung cancer epidemic: Dora Mills writes article for the ‘Journal Tribune’

Dora Mills

The October 2016 edition of Health and Wellness, a publication from the Journal Tribune, tackled the lung cancer epidemic plaguing Americans. Dora Anne Mills, M.D., M.P.H., FAAP, University of 51СƳ vice president for Clinical Affairs and director of the Center for Health Innovation, wrote the article which offered a brief history of the disease in America as well as advice on how people can reduce their risk.

According to Mills, lung cancer rose at epidemic rates in the 1930s, likely due to the mass production of cigarettes. It’s an epidemic still affecting Americans and Mainers in record numbers. “Today, lung cancer is the largest cause of cancer deaths,” stated Mills.” Out of about 8,500 Mainers who will be diagnosed with cancer this year, 1,300 of those will be diagnosed with lung cancer, and almost 1,000 will pass away from it, including 125 from York County. 51СƳ 85 percent of lung cancers are associated with tobacco.”

To reduce risk of lung cancer, Mills suggested minimizing exposure to tobacco, lung cancer screening tests for current and former smokers and testing homes for radon.

Read the column.

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The University of 51СƳ is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.