getting started
Take Action for
Your Health.
Protecting your health starts with taking proactive steps. If you’re at risk for lung cancer, getting screened is crucial. Use the ScreenLC Lung Cancer Screening Risk Calculator to determine your risk level. You may be at elevated risk if you have a pack-year count of 20 or more, are between 50–80 years old, and are a current or former smoker.
For more information on screening centers, insurance coverage, and other questions, visit the American Lung Cancer Website or contact a Lung Health Navigator at 844-ALA-LUNG.
step 2
Quit Smoking
Quitting smoking is one of the most effective ways to reduce your lung cancer risk. For support, reach out to the Illinois Tobacco Quitline at 1-866-QUIT-YES, or visit Quit Yes for more resources.
step 3
Manage Stress
Chronic stress can take a serious toll on your health. Therapy is a powerful tool for managing stress. Use this resource to find therapists covered by your insurance. If you don’t have insurance, explore this list of no-cost mental health service providers.
community resources
Connect with Your Community
Engaging with your community can be a great way to reduce stress and improve mental health. Explore the following organizations and events:
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A nonprofit organization which hosts online and in-person community events created to “eliminate the stigma and bring awareness to the mental health needs of Black men and boys.”
Visit www.tmhmancave.com/
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Find an event at a park near you through the Chicago Parks District.
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Brave Space Alliance is the first Black-led, trans-led LGBTQ+ Center located on the South Side of Chicago, dedicated to creating and providing affirming, culturally competent, for-us by-us resources, programming, and services for LGBTQ+ individuals on the South and West sides of the city.
Visit www.bravespacealliance.org/get-involved/support-groups/
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A Chicago non-profit organization hosting yoga and other wellness events. “Our goal is to change the narrative around male vulnerability. We strive to normalize the narrative around healing as men so that we can elevate ourselves and others in society."
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Kings Corner is a virtual weekly meetup group for men held through Zoom. Each week there is a different topic applicable to men’s mental health issues or struggles, as well as a different qualified host specialized in the topic. We aim to offer the men both psychoeducation and therapeutic tools/resources around issues they may be struggling with.”
Community Resources
Become a Citizen Scientist
Citizen scientists are local community members who learn scientific principles to help with cancer research. Contact Dr. Rohan Jeremiah at rjerem@uic.edu for more information.