The Risks of Lung Cancer

The majority of lung cancers are caused by smoking cigarettes. The higher your risk the more cigarettes you smoke and earlier you start smoking.

Other risk factors include HIV infection (which is the cause of acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS) and exposure to radiation emitted by the atomic bombs. You are more at risk when you have an history of non-small lung cancer in your family.

1. Smoking

The top risk factor of lung cancer is smoking cigarettes. About 20% of lung cancer deaths are due to smoking cigarettes, and more than 90% of them are caused by small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Smokers, when they smoke cigarettes, they breathe in nicotine and other chemicals. These chemicals damage the lungs and cause them to age more quickly. This could lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. The more a person smokes and the longer they have smoked, the higher their chance of developing lung cancer. It is also possible for non-smokers to develop lung cancer from breathing in secondhand smoke from cigarettes.

Other chemicals, like arsenic or diesel exhaust, or certain forms of chromium as well as silica can also increase the chance of developing lung cancer. It is important to know that exposures can happen both at work and within the home or community.

A family history of cancer may be an indicator of risk for lung carcinoma. If you have an adult or a sibling with lung cancer are twice as likely to be diagnosed with the cancer. This could be due to the genetic predisposition to develop lung cancer or due to shared risk factors like smoking.

Other personal factors can affect the likelihood of getting lung cancer, such as age, race and gender. While many of these variables are beyond our control we can minimize the risk of developing lung cancer by avoiding certain factors like smoking and acquiring certain genes.

2. Family History

Even if a person not smoking, risk for lung cancer they could be at greater risk of developing lung cancer if she has a close relative who has been diagnosed with the disease. This could be due to a genetic susceptibility or exposure to other cancer-causing agents such as smoking tobacco in the air and radiation.

The study conducted in the hospital used an unconditional logistic regression to study the connection with family history at different sites of cancer and lung cancer risk. The data were collected from patients aged 30 years and over who were admitted to one hospital in Miyagi Prefecture between 1997 and 2009. The relationship between lung cancer and family history of cancerous sites was analyzed. The most common cancers were stomach cancer, the top cancer site for males, and breast cancer, the most prevalent site for females.

The results of the present study suggest that the presence of lung cancer from asbestos cancer in the first-degree relatives including parents and siblings, is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer but not with other cancers that cause discord, like kidney and bladder cancers. The findings also show that the risk of lung cancer for men and women are different depending on the histologic type. In particular, adenocarcinoma is associated with a higher risk of developing the disease than squamous cell carcinoma and small cell carcinoma. This suggests that inherited susceptibility to environmental carcinogens, such as tobacco smoke, or to other cancer-predetermining genes plays an important role in the development of adenocarcinoma.

3. Exposure to chemicals

Lung cancers can start in the lungs, but then develop to other parts incidence of lung cancer the body. If this occurs, the cancer is called metastatic lung cancer. The chances of this happening increase if someone has a history of smoking or exposure to chemicals at work.

Smoking cigarettes is the principal cause of lung cancer. About 250 chemicals are discovered in smoke from cigarettes that can harm the lungs. But smoking other tobacco products, such as cigars or pipes, and to secondhand smoke can also increase the risk of lung cancer. Exposure to fumes from burning coal, oil or wood can also increase the risk. Similar to exposure to gas or chemicals at work, such as radiation or soldering metals, can increase the risk.

Exposure to asbestos for a long time increases the risk of developing mesothelioma (lung cancer) which affects the linings the lungs as well as the chest wall. People who have been impacted by asbestos exposure may be eligible for compensation.

The odorless, tasteless and radioactive gas radon could also increase the risk of lung cancer especially for non-smokers. Radon is found in soil and rock and can enter homes through cracks in the foundation. A test kit is available to determine the levels of radon in your home. Air pollution is another cause that can increase the risk of lung cancer. It is crucial to pay attention to the daily forecast of air quality and avoid activities outdoors when the pollution level is high.

4. Physical Activity

Smoking cigarettes is the most significant risk factor for lung cancer however, those who do not smoke also develop it. Lung cancer is usually caused by smoking tobacco however it can be caused by chemicals that are found in certain work environments as well as in homes (like arsenic, nickel, and the chromium) or by radon that is present in the air.

Studies have shown that being physically active is linked to a lower risk for lung cancer, both in current smokers and those who have never smoked. The level of physical activity needed to make a difference does not require hours of exercise every day or a high-cost health club membership. Certain people can lower their risk by walking to and fro the car, or by planting their gardens twice every week.

Researchers conducted a case-control study at a hospital that involved the 660 patients with lung cancer, who were matched to 1,335 healthy controls. The study showed that patients who didn't engage in regular physical activity every week for the duration of their lives were twice as vulnerable to lung cancer than those who did.

Certain people might not be able physical activity class action lawsuit for lung cancer a long duration while they undergo treatment for lung cancer. This is because the disease may cause anemia, which means that there aren't enough healthy red blood cells in the body to carry oxygen to different parts of the body. This can lead to dizziness, a fast heartbeat excessive fatigue, and swelling. Ask your doctor what type of exercise is safe to do both before and after treatment.