CLEARING THE AIR – The Crisis of Air Pollution and Lung Cancer

HOST:  Hildy Grossman CO-HOST:  Jordan Rich GUESTS:   Joan H. Schiller, MD and Francine Jacobson, MD, MPH In 2021, the World Health Organization issued a stark warning: climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity. And yet, the public often perceives climate change as an abstract concept or a political debate, not a health problem. It’s time to change this perception. Alarmingly, lung cancer deaths have surged by nearly 30% since 2007. Every year we experience accelerating heat waves, wildfires, droughts, and extreme weather events. Moreover, all these changes impact cancer occurrence and care. Our guests probe deeply into this serious problem, looking at causes and possible solutions.    Dr. Schiller explains how her global group, OUCH (Oncologists United for Climate and Health) fights back using education and advocating for policy change to protect cancer patients and us all from the dangers of climate change. Meanwhile, Dr. Jacobson supports increasing access to life-saving lung cancer screenings for underserved, high-risk communities. She suggests steps to accomplish this by expanding criteria for screenings. Are we ready to treat climate change and air pollution like the medical emergency it is? Tune in to uncover the link between our environment and cancer - and how we can fight back.