Lung Cancer Causes

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The Causes of Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is a deadly disease with a few different causes. Fortunately, some of these causes can be avoided and thus the risk for developing lung cancer can be lessened. With other causes, however, some people may not be so lucky. Even so, sometimes people with no family history or other related cause can develop lung cancer. The disease is tricky to diagnose on time and to treat effectively, so determining the causes of lung cancer can be a beneficial step in learning how to recognize and treat the disease.

Different Factors

One of the primary and best known causes of lung cancer is the use of tobacco products. Advertisements everywhere warn about the dangers of smoking and using other tobacco products –there is even a surgeon general’s warning on each pack of cigarettes and chewing tobacco. In fact, approximately 85 to 90 percent of lung cancers are linked to smoking. The carcinogens in the tobacco cause damage to the lung cells, causing them to sometimes mutate and begin reproducing rapidly. This can lead to the development of lung cancer. Your risk for developing lung cancer due to smoking is correlated to how long you have been a smoker and to how many packs per day you do smoke. Smoking one pack or more per day increases the risk of developing lung cancer to 20 times that of a non-smoker.

People who smoke can decrease their risk of developing lung cancer by quitting smoking or using other products. It is important to realize as well that second-hand smoke plays a large part in the development of lung cancer. People who live with a smoker have a two to three times greater risk of developing lung cancer than those who do not. Also, women seem to have an increased risk over men in developing the disease, whether through smoking themselves or exposure to second-hand smoke.

Exposure to other environmental elements like asbestos, a fiber formerly used in insulation, and radioactive elements –some of which are found naturally—can increase a person’s risk of developing the disease. A family history may also play some part in the likelihood of developing cancer. Examining these different causes plays an important role in learning to recognize the disease and begin treatment at an appropriate time.