Turquoise Takeover Week in Rockland County

From the Rockland County Legislature

Fewer people are smoking, but too many lives are still being lost to lung cancer, a fact the American Lung Association will highlight during this year’s Turquoise Takeover – a week set aside to promote good lung health through awareness, education and early detection.

The week of May 8 through May 14 has been declared Turquoise Takeover Week in Rockland County, with County Legislator Aney Paul presenting a special proclamation to the American Lung Association. It was accepted by the director of POW’R Against Tobacco, a grant program of the ALA, Meghan DuBois O’Connor.

“Lung cancer claims the lives of more people each year than breast, colon and prostate cancer combined, making it the number one cancer killer in the U.S.,” Legislator Paul said. “While some people are living longer, too many are losing their lives to lung cancer.”

The ALA’s Lung Force encourages people to wear the color turquoise to help raise awareness about lung disease and to show support for those living with it. The organization works to ensure fewer people are diagnosed and that those living with lung cancer live longer.

The American Cancer Society estimates about 236,740 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year, and that there will be about 130,180 deaths.

Although smoking is the main culprit in lung cancer, anyone can get lung cancer, including those who never smoked, said Legislator Paul, who holds a Doctorate in Nursing Practice and has been a nurse for more than 30 years. In addition to tobacco use, risk factors can include exposure to radon, an odorless, colorless gas that can build up in homes and workplaces, and air pollution.

Rockland County Legislature Chairman Jay Hood Jr., who signed the Proclamation and spoke at the ceremony, personally understands the impact of lung cancer.

“My father had lung cancer and passed away 10 years ago,” Legislator Hood said. “It is a devastating disease, both to the person afflicted and to their family and friends. I appreciate all of the important work being done to try to prevent future cases.”

Legislator Toney Earl also participated in the presentation.

“Although the incidence of lung cancer among Black women is about 16 percent lower than among white women, Black men are 12 percent more likely to develop lung cancer than white men,” Legislator Earl said. “It’s something to be aware of and to get checked if you are having any problems with your lungs.”

Legislator Paul has worked to successfully pass local laws related to smoking, including banning electronic cigarettes in public facilities such as restaurants, bars and other places where tobacco use is prohibited.

One of her most successful efforts resulted in the passage of a County law that bans the sale of all tobacco products to those under the age of 21, a law later adopted on the state level. The law bans the sale of not only cigarettes and cigars but chewing tobacco and electronic cigarettes, or ecigs, which have become popular among young people despite growing concerns about the health impacts. The law is meant to put a halt to smoking for youths before they ever get started.

If you’d like more information, here is the American Lung Association’s most current State of Lung Cancer for New York State report.