pack-year smoking history

World Lung Cancer Day emphasizes the importance of early screening as lung cancer remains the deadliest cancer in the U.S., with nearly 125,000 expected deaths this year. A survey by the American Lung Association reveals only one-third of people know about low-dose CT scans for high-risk individuals, such as smokers or former smokers with a 20 pack-year history. Experts highlight stigma around smoking and underutilization of screening as barriers to early detection.