It is estimated that about one in 15 Canadians will develop lung cancer during their lifetime. One in 18 men and one in 20 women will die from it.

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Thoracic surgeon at Mass General Brigham and Assistant Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Jeffrey Yang, says lung cancer is the number one cancer killer in Newfoundland and Labrador, the rest of Canada and the United States.

Most of the time, early-stage lung cancer is asymptomatic. Generally, any person between 55-74 years of age and who has a history of tobacco use should get a CT scan.

As for vaping, there is no long-term data but small studies have shown that it has an effect on the airways, so he would not recommend turning to the product.

At the same time, he says vaping may be a way for a person to quit smoking combustible cigarettes.