Lung Cancer Risk Factors
Researchers have discovered several causes of lung cancer and most are related to the use of snuff.
Cigarettes. Cigarette smoking causes lung cancer. Harmful substances, called carcinogens in snuff, damage cells in the lungs. Over time, damaged cells may become cancerous. The probability that a smoker will develop lung cancer is affected by the age at which smoking began, by the time the person has smoked, the number of cigarettes smoked per day and the force with which the smoker inhales. Quitting smoking greatly reduces a person’s risk of developing lung cancer.
Cigars and pipes. People who smoke cigars and pipes have a higher risk of lung cancer than nonsmokers. The number of years a person smokes, the number of pipes or cigars smoked per day and the force with which the person inhales all affect the risk of developing lung cancer. Even the smoking of cigars and pipe do not inhale are at increased risk of lung cancer, mouth and other types.
Snuff smoke in the environment. The possibility of developing lung cancer increases with exposure to tobacco snuff in the air: the smoke in the air when someone else is smoking. The snuff smoke exposure in the environment is called second hand smoking or passive smoking or involuntary.
Radon. Radon is an invisible radioactive gas, odorless and tasteless, that occurs naturally in soil and rocks. It can damage the lungs, which can lead to lung cancer. People who work in mines may be exposed to radon and, in some parts of the country, radon in homes also. Smoking increases the risk of further lung cancer in people who already have the risk from exposure to radon. A kit for home use to measure radon levels in homes is for sale at most hardware stores. The home test for radon is relatively easy to use and not expensive. After correcting the problem of radon, the risk disappears completely.
Asbestos. Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as fibers and are used in some industries. Asbestos fibers tend to break easily into particles that can float in the air and stick to clothes. When particles are inhaled, they can lodge in the lungs, damaging cells and increasing the risk of lung cancer. Studies have shown that workers who have been exposed to large amounts of asbestos have a risk of developing lung cancer is 3 or 4 times that of workers who have not been exposed to asbestos. This exhibition has been observed in such industries as shipbuilding, asbestos mining and manufacturing, insulation work and brake repair. The risk of lung cancer is even higher among asbestos workers who smoke too. Asbestos workers should use protective equipment provided by the company and continue to labor practices and recommended safety procedures.
Pollution. Researchers have found an association between lung cancer and exposure to certain air pollutants, such as products resulting from the combustion of diesel and other fossil fuels. However, this relationship has not been clearly defined and is conducting further research.
Lung diseases. Some lung diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), increase a person’s chances of developing lung cancer. Lung cancer tends to develop in areas of the lung that are scarred from TB.
Personal history. The person who has had lung cancer once is more likely to develop a second lung cancer when compared with someone who has never had. Quitting smoking after being diagnosed with lung cancer can prevent the development of a second lung cancer.
Researchers continue to study the causes of lung cancer and continue to look for ways to prevent it. We know that the best way to prevent lung cancer is to quit (or never start). As soon as one stops smoking, the better. Even if you have smoked for many years, it is never too late to benefit from quitting.
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