As the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S., lung cancer is a critical public health issue.
Responsible for about one in five of all cancer deaths, it claims more lives each year than colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined.
With more than 238,000 Americans expected to receive a lung cancer diagnosis in 2023, and over 127,000 predicted to die from the disease, understanding and addressing lung cancer becomes an increasingly pressing concern.
Symptoms and Risk Factors
Lung cancer typically remains silent in its early stages, with signs and symptoms surfacing only when the disease is advanced.
Symptoms include a persistent new cough, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, chest pain, hoarseness, unintended weight loss, bone pain, and headache.
Several factors can increase your risk of developing lung cancer. Some, like smoking, can be controlled, while others, like family history, can’t be changed. The significant risk factors include:
Smoking: The primary risk factor for lung cancer, it increases with the number of cigarettes smoked each day and the number of years you have smoked.
Exposure to secondhand smoke: Even if you don’t smoke, being exposed to secondhand smoke elevates your lung cancer risk.
Previous radiation therapy: If you’ve undergone radiation therapy to the chest for another type of cancer, your lung cancer risk may increase.
Exposure to radon gas: Produced by the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water, unsafe radon levels can accumulate in any building, including homes.
Exposure to asbestos and other carcinogens: Workplace exposure to substances like asbestos, arsenic, chromium, and nickel can increase lung cancer risk, especially for smokers.
Family history of lung cancer: If a parent, sibling, or child had lung cancer, your risk is increased.
Prevention and Early Detection
While there’s no guaranteed way to prevent lung cancer, taking the following steps can significantly reduce your risk:
Don’t smoke: If you’ve never smoked, don’t start. If you smoke, stop as soon as possible. Even if you’ve smoked for years, quitting can significantly lower your lung cancer risk.
Avoid secondhand smoke: Try to avoid areas where people smoke and seek out smoke-free options.
Test your home for radon: If you live in an area known for radon issues, have your home tested and remedied if needed.
Avoid carcinogens at work: Follow your employer’s safety precautions and ask your healthcare professional about additional protective steps.
Eat a healthy diet: Opt for a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Avoid taking large doses of vitamins in pill form, as some studies have shown they can increase cancer risk.
Exercise regularly: Try to exercise most days of the week.
Early detection through lung cancer screening is also crucial for people at high risk. The screening aims to find lung cancer at an early stage when it is more likely to be curable.
Lung cancer screening is recommended for older adults who are longtime smokers and who don’t have any signs or symptoms of lung cancer.
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