Lung Cancer

Congratulations! Not smoking tobacco and avoiding breathing the tobacco smoke of others are the best things you can do to avoid getting lung cancer. You do not appear to have any major risk factors for lung cancer.

Cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer. In the U.S., cigarette smoking causes at least 80% of lung cancers. But not all smokers get lung cancer. Smoking can cause cancer in many parts of the body. People who quit smoking have a lower risk for lung cancer than if they had continued to smoke. But their risk is higher than the risk for people who never smoked. Quitting smoking at any age can lower the risk for lung cancer. Talk with your healthcare provider about programs that can help you quit.

Cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer. In the U.S., cigarette smoking causes at least 80% of lung cancers. But not all smokers get lung cancer. Smoking can cause cancer in many parts of the body. Smoking may also cause cancer of the mouth, throat, voicebox (larynx), esophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas, colon, cervix, stomach, and liver, as well as some types of leukemia. People who quit smoking have a lower risk for lung cancer than if they had continued to smoke. But their risk is higher than the risk for people who never smoked. Quitting smoking at any age can lower the risk for lung cancer. Talk with your healthcare provider about programs that can help you quit. In addition to smoking, you indicated that you might have other risk factors (see the information below). These risk factors increase a nonsmoker’s risk for lung cancer. But in someone who smokes they increase the risk even more.

You have told us that you do not currently smoke and have not smoked cigarettes in the past. This means you have kept yourself from being exposed to the major risk factor for lung cancer. But you did tell us that you might have other risk factors (see the information below).

Congratulations on quitting smoking cigarettes. When you stop smoking, your lungs begin to heal from the damage caused by smoking. People who quit smoking have a lower risk for lung cancer than if they had continued to smoke. But their risk is higher than the risk for people who never smoked. Quitting smoking at any age can lower the risk for lung cancer.

You told us that you smoke a pipe or cigars. Cigar smoking and pipe smoking are almost as likely to cause lung cancer as cigarette smoking. Smoking a pipe or a cigar can cause cancer of the lung, mouth, voice box (larynx), esophagus, and possibly the pancreas. People who quit smoking have a lower risk for lung cancer than if they had continued to smoke. But their risk is higher than the risk for people who never smoked. Quitting smoking at any age can lower the risk for lung cancer. Talk with your healthcare provider about programs that can help you quit.

You told us that you are around people who smoke. Breathing smoke from other people's cigarettes, pipes, or cigars, can cause lung cancer. Breathing other people’s smoke (secondhand smoke) exposes you to the same chemicals as smokers. Every year in the U.S. people who never smoked die from lung cancer because of secondhand smoke.

You have said that you have been exposed to asbestos. Having a job that puts you in contact with asbestos is an important risk factor for lung cancer. Studies have found that people who work with asbestos are several times more likely to die from lung cancer than people who don’t work with it. Some of the workplaces that may have asbestos present include mines, mills, textile plants, and shipyards. Asbestos workers who also smoke have an even greater risk for lung cancer. Experts don’t know how much low-level or short-term exposure to asbestos might raise lung cancer risk. Make sure you healthcare provider knows you have been exposed to asbestos.

You told us that you have been exposed to substances at work that can cause cancer. The fumes from certain chemicals or minerals, or diesel exhaust can cause cancer. These substances include arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, silica, vinyl chloride, nickel compounds, chromium compounds, coal products, and chloromethyl ethers. In recent years, workplaces have become safer from these substances. But the dangers still exist if you are exposed to them at work. Make sure your healthcare provider knows you have been exposed to these substances.

You told us that you have had radiation treatment to your chest. Having radiation treatment to the chest raises your risk for lung cancer. Doctors may treat Hodgkin disease and breast cancer with this type of radiation. Women who get radiation treatment after a mastectomy are at higher risk for lung cancer. But women who have this treatment after a lumpectomy don’t seem to be at higher risk.

You told us that you have family members who have had lung cancer. Brothers, sisters, and children of people who have had lung cancer may have a slightly higher risk for it themselves. This is especially true if the relative was diagnosed at a younger age. Doctors don’t know how much of this risk is tied to genes and how much might be from the home environment. For instance, people who smoke expose other family members to secondhand smoke. Other homes may have high levels of radon gas. If you have a family history of lung cancer, your risk may be higher. Make sure your healthcare provider knows your family history.

You told us that you have lived in a house that had a high level of radon. Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs in nature. It happens from the breakdown of uranium in the soil and rocks, but can’t be seen or smelled. It can enter a home through cracks or holes in the foundation. The EPA says that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon exposure poses a lower risk for lung cancer than smoking does. Still it greatly raises the risk for lung cancer in people who smoke. Make sure your healthcare provider knows you have been exposed to radon.

You told us that you don’t know if you have lived in a house that had a high level of radon. Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs in nature. It happens from the breakdown of uranium in the soil and rocks, but can’t be seen or smelled. It can enter a home through cracks or holes in the foundation. The EPA says that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon exposure poses a lower risk for lung cancer than smoking does. Still it greatly raises the risk for lung cancer in people who smoke. If you are concerned about radon in your current home, you can buy a test kit from your local hardware store and do it yourself. You can also contact your local EPA office for the names of reliable companies that can do more accurate testing.

In addition to smoking, you have been exposed to substances at work that can cause cancer. Inhaling fumes of chemicals or minerals such as arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, silica, vinyl chloride, nickel compounds, chromium compounds, coal products, mustard gas, diesel exhaust, and chloromethyl ethers can cause cancer. The government and industry have taken steps in recent years to help protect workers from many of these exposures. But the dangers are still present. If you work around these substances, you should be careful to limit your exposure whenever possible and consider quitting smoking. Make sure you healthcare provider knows you have been exposed to these substances.