The Upshur County Commission recently proclaimed November as Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

Susie Haught attended the Nov. 4 Upshur County Commission meeting as the commission issued the proclamation.

“This really touches close to home for me,” Haught said. “My dad passed away at 55 from lung cancer. I was 21 at the time, so it took him young, and that’s why I do this.”

The proclamation read:

Whereas, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in WV, with the goal to increase national awareness and early prevention; and

Whereas, W.Va. has the highest rate of lung cancer in the nation as a whole. Nearly one in three of all cancer deaths in WV are from lung cancer.

Whereas, lung cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men and women combined, with an average of 2,011 new cases diagnosed each year.

Whereas, awareness, early detection, and treatment are crucial in the prevention and the slowing of lung cancer; and

Whereas, through public awareness to minimize the devastating affects lung cancer has on citizens.

Now, therefore be it declared, the Upshur County Commission, West Virginia, hereby proclaims November, 2021 as Lung Cancer Awareness Month and hereby encourages all citizens to research the sign and symptoms and preventative measures for lung cancer awareness.