While many associate the month of November with Men’s Health Awareness, it is also important to shine the spotlight on Lung Cancer Awareness Month. According to the American Lung Association, lung cancer is the leading cause of death in both men and women in America.  Lung cancer is primarily caused by smoking, with 80-90% of fatal cases caused by the habit in both men and women. However, exposure to harmful chemicals or the presence of certain inherited genetic markers may also trigger the onset of this terrible disease. 

Patients that are considered high risk do have the option for regular screenings. If a doctor does suspect abnormalities in a patient’s lung after a low-dose CT scan, additional testing, such as a biopsy, will determine the diagnosis. When lung cancer is detected early, the mortality rate can decrease by 14-20 percent for those who are high-risk.  

Symptoms: 

  • Chronic cough 
  • Shortness of breath or wheezing 
  • Coughing up blood 
  • Frequent lung infections like bronchitis or pneumonia 

Causes: 

  • Smoking 
  • Radon 
  • Air pollution 

Prevention: 

  • Don’t smoke or quit smoking
  • Avoid secondhand smoke exposure 
  • Test your home for Radon and other harmful chemical exposures 

Companion diagnostics are one tool that provides insights into the early diagnosis, prognosis, therapeutic effectiveness, and monitoring of cancer through molecular testing.  LaunchWorks partners with companies to develop and optimize cancer diagnostic products for commercial, large-scale manufacturing. LaunchWorks provides an expansive list of services, from creating custom pilot lot kits for high complexity products to fully commercialized kitting and fulfillment.  

Furthermore, LaunchWorks provides testing services that include real-time and accelerated product aging and package testing. Cold chain packaging for custom shipping needs can also be developed and validated through our affiliate company, Cryopak. 

LaunchWorks is proud to support companies in the fight to combat Lung Cancer, and honor those that have lost the battle. For more information about how LaunchWorks supports early detection for lung cancer, contact us here.