Lung cancer is the leading cause of all cancer deaths. Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. About 80% of lung cancer deaths in women and 90% of lung cancer deaths in men are related to cigarette smoking.
Risk Factors
- Smoking
- Secondhand Smoke
- Radon: Radon is a naturally occurring gas that comes from rocks and dirt and can get trapped in houses and buildings. It cannot be seen, tasted, or smelled.
- Other Substances: such as asbestos, silica, chromium
- Personal or Family History of Lung Cancer
- Radiation Therapy to the Chest
- Diet: smokers who take beta-carotene supplements have increased risk of lung cancer. Arsenic in drinking water (primarily from private wells) can increase the risk of lung cancer.
Symptoms
- Coughing that gets worse or doesn’t go away.
- Chest pain.
- Shortness of breath.
- Wheezing.
- Coughing up blood.
- Feeling very tired all the time.
- Weight loss with no known cause.
Other changes that can sometimes occur with lung cancer may include repeated bouts of pneumonia and swollen or enlarged lymph nodes (glands) inside the chest in the area between the lungs.
Prevention
You can help lower your risk of lung cancer in the following ways—
- Don’t smoke.
- Avoid secondhand smoke.
- Get your home tested for radon.
- Be careful at work.
- Include antioxidants in your diet
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