Lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer for both men and women. Each year, about 213,000 new lung cancer cases will be diagnosed, resulting in about 160,000 deaths. This represents nearly one-third (29%) of all cancer deaths.
Risk factors for lung cancer include:
- Smoking (Smoking is responsible for more than 85% of all lung cancers. Risk increases with the number of cigarettes smoked during a lifetime and the number of years smoked.)
- Exposure to secondhand smoke
- Excessive radiation exposure, including radon gas (the National Cancer Institute estimates about 15,000-22,000 deaths from lung cancers are caused yearly by exposure to radon gas.)
- Exposure to asbestos (especially if also a smoker), certain metals (chromium, cadmium, arsenic), and some organic chemicals
- Air pollution
- Personal history of tuberculosis
What you can do
- Don’t smoke, or if you do smoke stop smoking. The sooner you stop, the sooner the lungs can begin to repair themselves from the damage caused by smoking.
- Avoid secondhand smoke.
- Limit exposure to radiation and radon gas. Radon gas collects under homes in certain regions of the nation when there is poor ventilation. Improving ventilation under your house can lower radon gas exposure and risk of long cancer.
- Limit exposure to pollution and other known carcinogens.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables. The antioxidants and other protective substances found in fruits and vegetables can lower the risk of getting lung cancer, even in smokers.
In summary:
While lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer, it is the most easily prevented. Promote clean air for everyone, avoid cigarette smoke and other known carcinogens, and eat freely of fruits and vegetables.
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