Lung Cancer Screening
Who Should Get Screened and How?
Screening is recommended for individuals with a history of smoking, those with a family history of lung cancer, and anyone who has ever smoked or is currently a smoker. It is a vital step in your journey.
The low-dose CT scan is the gold standard for lung cancer screening. It is a quick, non-invasive procedure that uses advanced technology to create detailed images of the lungs, helping to find abnormalities early.
Understanding Stigma Surrounding Lung Cancer and Lung Cancer Screening
Stigma often prevents people from seeking help. It is important to recognize that lung cancer is a common disease and that early screening is a sign of strength, not weakness. Education is the first step toward breaking the silence.
Stories of Remembrance and Inspiration
Explore stories of individuals affected by lung cancer to inspire your own creative work.
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Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole (1919–1965) was a jazz pianist and singer whose smooth baritone made him one of the most prominent entertainers of his era. A longtime heavy cigarette and pipe smoker, Cole began experiencing weight loss and severe back pain in 1964. In December, doctors discovered an advanced malignant tumor in his left lung. He continued recording despite his diagnosis, then underwent surgery in January 1965 to remove the entire left lung. The cancer had already spread, however, and Cole died on February 15, 1965, at age 45.
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George Harrison
George Harrison (1943–2001) was the lead guitarist and one of the principal songwriters of the Beatles. A former heavy smoker, Harrison first developed throat cancer in 1997, which he attributed to smoking. He underwent surgery and radiation treatment and later developed cancer in his lung. In 2001, surgeons removed a cancerous growth from one lung, but the disease subsequently spread to his brain. He received treatment for the metastatic cancer but died on November 29, 2001, at age 58.
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Donna Summer
Donna Summer (1948–2012) was an American singer known as the “Queen of Disco,” with hits including “Last Dance,” “Hot Stuff,” and “Bad Girls.” She died from lung cancer on May 17, 2012, at age 63. Her family specifically stated that Summer was a non-smoker and that her cancer was not related to smoking. Some reports noted that Summer believed her cancer may have been connected to inhaling dust and toxic particles after the September 11 attacks, when she was living near Ground Zero, although a definitive cause was never established publicly. Details about her specific diagnosis and treatment were kept private by her family.
Walt Disney
Walt Disney (1901–1966) was an animator, filmmaker, and co-founder of the company that became Walt Disney Productions. A lifelong heavy smoker, Disney was diagnosed with lung cancer in November 1966. He underwent surgery to remove a lung tumor and subsequently received cobalt radiation therapy. Although he initially believed the treatment had worked, his health deteriorated rapidly. He collapsed at home later that month and died on December 15, 1966, at age 65, from complications associated with the cancer.
Dean Martin
Dean Martin (1917–1995) was an American singer, actor, and comedian best known for his solo career, "The Dean Martin Show," and his membership in the Rat Pack. A lifelong heavy smoker, Martin was diagnosed with lung cancer at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in September 1993. Doctors recommended surgery, but he declined the operation. He increasingly withdrew from public life and died at his Beverly Hills home on December 25, 1995, at age 78. His death was attributed to acute respiratory failure resulting from emphysema.
Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington (1899–1974) was one of the most influential American jazz composers, pianists, and bandleaders, composing more than 1,000 works during his career. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1974 and also developed pneumonia. Despite his declining health, Ellington continued performing; his last full concert was in March 1974, when he performed while battling both diseases. He died at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center on May 24, 1974, at age 75, from lung cancer after pneumonia set in.
Susan Wojcicki
Susan Wojcicki (1968–2024) was a pioneering technology executive who became CEO of YouTube in 2014 after being one of Google's earliest employees. In 2022, at age 54, she was diagnosed with late-stage non-small-cell lung cancer, despite having no known risk factors and never having smoked. She stepped down as YouTube CEO in 2023 to focus on her health and family. During her illness, she became deeply involved in advancing lung-cancer research, helping bring together researchers, clinicians, and advocates and supporting work in immunotherapy, targeted therapies, cancer vaccines, genetics, and early detection. She died from lung cancer in August 2024 at age 56.
Joe DiMaggio
Joe DiMaggio (1914–1999) was a Hall of Fame New York Yankees center fielder and one of baseball's most celebrated players. A heavy smoker for much of his adult life, DiMaggio developed lung cancer late in life. In October 1998, he was hospitalized for surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his right lung. His recovery was complicated by pneumonia in his other lung and repeated fluid accumulation, and he spent 99 days in the hospital. After returning home, his health continued to deteriorate. He died on March 8, 1999, at age 84, following a five-month battle with lung cancer.
Dana Reeve
Dana Reeve (1961–2006) was an actress, singer, and advocate who became widely known for caring for her husband, actor Christopher Reeve, after his spinal-cord injury. In August 2005, just ten months after Christopher's death, Dana announced that she had been diagnosed with lung cancer. Her diagnosis was particularly notable because she had never smoked; she had, however, experienced secondhand-smoke exposure earlier in her career while performing in bars and hotel venues. She initially expressed optimism about her treatment, and her tumor reportedly responded to therapy. Dana died from lung cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center on March 6, 2006, at age 44.
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Jesse Owens
Jesse Owens (1913–1980) was an Olympic track-and-field legend who won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He began smoking cigarettes at age 32 and eventually smoked approximately a pack a day for 35 years. In December 1979, at age 66, Owens began being hospitalized repeatedly with an extremely aggressive, drug-resistant form of lung cancer. His condition worsened over the following months, and he died from lung cancer on March 31, 1980, in Tucson, Arizona, with his family at his bedside.