Mark your calendars, Bay Area residents: November isn't just for Thanksgiving anymore. The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners has cemented November 2025 as Lung Cancer Screening Awareness Month. During a meeting held on Wednesday, Dr. Sam Freyaldenhoven, a thoracic surgeon from Moffitt Cancer Center, stepped up to the podium to accept this significant proclamation, according to Hillsborough County news.
The numbers are stark: lung cancer tops the list of cancer-related mortalities, claiming as many lives daily as breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers combined. Moffitt Cancer Center, a pioneer in early cancer detection, is raising the bar with its Ferman Family Mobile Lung Cancer Screening Unit. The program carries low-dose CT screenings directly to communities, potentially catching cancer early when it's more treatable.
For Dr. Freyaldenhoven and his colleagues at Moffitt, this honour transcends beyond a mere acknowledgment of their daily endeavors. "It [also] honors the researchers and clinicians that are advancing this work," he told Hillsborough County officials. It's a nod to those battling the disease, the survivors, their families, and those committed individuals who ensure that lung cancer remains in the public eye.
This isn't the only item on the Board's agenda reveled in recognition. December 7 has been earmarked as Gamma Theta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha 85th Anniversary Day Celebration. The proclamation celebrates decades of dedication and achievements by the local chapter of the sorority, a fixture in community service and educational advancement.
For those interested in the full scope of the BOCC's recent meeting, further details await on the Hillsborough County government's website. And for Islanders looking to stay updated on county commissioners' news, there's always the option to subscribe to Commission Connection.
