Lung Cancer Facts

Smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer. Your risk increases with the number of cigarettes you smoke each day and the number of years you smoke. Also, if you started smoking at a young age, you will be at higher risk later in life. In general, lung cancer rates begin increasing around age 40 and peak after age 70.  While smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer, it is not the only cause. Studies show that approximately 15 to 20 of every 100 lung cancer patients have never smoked.

Some nonsmokers develop lung cancer due to exposure to secondhand smoke, while others develop it for unknown reasons. despite having kicked the habit, former smokers are at a significantly high risk of lung cancer than never-smokers. And the risk remains substantially elevated even 25 years after quitting. Smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer. Your risk increases with the number of cigarettes you smoke each day and the number of years you smoke. Also, if you started smoking at a young age, you will be at higher risk later in life. In general, lung cancer rates begin increasing around age 40 and peak after age 70.  While smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer, it is not the only cause. Studies show that approximately 15 to 20 of every 100 lung cancer patients have never smoked. Some nonsmokers develop lung cancer due to exposure to secondhand smoke, while others develop it for unknown reasons. despite having kicked the habit, former smokers are at a significantly high risk of lung cancer than never-smokers. And the risk remains substantially elevated even 25 years after quitting. That said, the risk does decrease somewhat with time. And without question, becoming a former smoker is one of the best things you can do to reduce your cancer risk and improve your overall health. Lung cancer is most treatable in the early stages. When it is discovered early, surgery can offer the chance of a cure. Usually, symptoms of lung cancer don’t appear until the disease is already at an advanced stage. Even when lung cancer does cause symptoms, many people may mistake them for other problems, such as an infection or long-term effects from smoking. This may delay the diagnosis. Because cancers such as lung grow quietly and aren’t detected until they’ve become advanced and spread to other parts of the body, doctors don’t detect the disease until it’s too late.

Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer – https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-symptoms.html

Environmental Factors that can Cause Lung Cancer – https://www.lung.org/blog/environmental-factors

Preventing Lung Cancer – https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/prevention.html

I think it is important to have a good understanding of cancer risk in general: https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/prevention-and-healthy-living/understanding-cancer-risk

  • Approximately 5% to 20% of all cancers are hereditary.
  • This is a relatively small percentage of cancers, so how can you tell whether cancer runs in the family? Some clues include:

Having multiple relatives with cancer on the same side of the family, especially if they were diagnosed at a younger age

Having a single person in the family with multiple tumors, especially in the same organ.