Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With so much at stake, it makes sense for you to know your lung cancer risk factors.
“Unfortunately, lung cancer continues to affect hundreds of thousands of Americans every year,” says Dr. Spenser Staub, a board-certified, fellowship-trained pulmonologist at Beaufort Memorial Pulmonary Specialists. “Because it can grow for a long time without symptoms, detection often occurs late. That reduces the likelihood of a positive outcome.”
Here are a few factors that increase the risk of lung cancer and how you can detect it early.
Environmental Exposure
In some environments, the air you breathe and the water you drink increase your risk of developing lung cancer. Many carcinogens are found in the workplace, but others can sneak into your home.
Read More: 6 Early Signs of Lung Cancer and When to Take Action
Environmental risk factors for lung cancer include:
- Arsenic — Found in air, soil and elsewhere in nature, arsenic may lead to skin cancer and other cancers. Though uncommon in the U.S., high levels of this element can wind up in drinking water and lead to lung cancer.
- Asbestos — Used in insulation and hundreds of other products, asbestos is made of tiny fibers that, if inhaled or swallowed, can lead to cancer and other health issues.
- Radiation — Undergoing radiation therapy for breast cancer or other cancers in the past may make lung cancer more likely in the future.
- Radon — You can’t see it, smell it or taste it, but radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer deaths in America, according to the American Cancer Society. “Radon is in practically every home and building,” Dr. Staub says, “and its concentration is typically highest in basements.” Home test kits can help determine if you have dangerous levels of radon in your home.
Personal or Family History of Lung Cancer
Getting lung cancer once makes you more likely to get it again. Additionally, you may experience lung cancer if the disease is in your family tree.
A family history seems to increase your risk for lung cancer based on the following:
- Age of diagnosis — If your family member was diagnosed with lung cancer at a young age, your risk increases.
- Closeness of the diagnosed family member — Your risk rises if a first-degree relative had lung cancer. This may be a parent or sibling.
While there does seem to be a link among family members, it’s unclear if that is due to genetics, environmental exposures or something else.
Smoking, Chief Among Lung Cancer Risk Factors
While there are plenty of lung cancer risk factors, cigarette smoking outdoes them all. It causes the vast majority of lung cancer-related deaths and almost every case of small cell lung cancer, a dangerous type of lung cancer that spreads quickly.
Cigars aren’t any safer to use than cigarettes. Neither are other tobacco products.
“Pipes, cigars and cigarettes all put you at risk for lung cancer,” Dr. Staub says. “Making the whole situation worse, lung cancer can even affect people who have never smoked.”
This negative effect comes from secondhand tobacco smoke, which you breathe in anytime you’re around people who are smoking. Along with being a serious risk factor for lung cancer, secondhand smoke can cause the following:
- Asthma attacks
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
Vaping or smoking e-cigarettes may also cause lung cancer. To date, the research has not definitively proven the link.
Read More: Can Vaping Cause Lung Cancer? What We Know So Far
Low-Dose CT Scans: A Smart Step if You’re at Risk
Having one or more risk factors for lung cancer doesn’t guarantee you’ll get the disease. However, if you have risk factors, you don’t have to develop a cough or experience shortness of breath or other symptoms before you seek care. Advanced technology can detect lung cancer now.
With low-dose computed tomography (CT) lung cancer screening, your care team can detect lung cancer in its earliest stages, before it grows and spreads beyond the lungs.
“Earlier diagnosis of lung cancer opens the door to quicker treatment and often, more treatment options,” Dr. Staub says. “At the end of the day, this makes you more likely to survive your disease.”
During a low-dose CT scan, you come to Beaufort Memorial and lie on a table. The table passes through a round hole in an imaging machine. This imaging services machine takes multiple images of your lungs. Afterward, your care provider examines the images for any signs of lung cancer. If there are areas of concern, additional testing confirms the presence of cancer, and treatment can then begin.
Read More: How Lung Cancer Screening Can Help Save Lives
Who Qualifies for a Low-Dose CT Scan?
Currently, low-dose CT screening for lung cancer is recommended for people at high risk for lung cancer. You may qualify if you meet the following criteria:
- Age — You must be between the ages of 50 and 80.
- Current history — You must either be a current smoker or have stopped smoking within the last 15 years.
- Longtime smoker — A longtime smoker is defined by cumulative pack year history, which could mean smoking one pack per day for 20 years, or two packs for 10 years, or any combination that would lead to the same amount of exposure.
“If you meet these criteria, it’s a good idea to get screened once a year,” Dr. Staub advises. “The test is very fast and totally painless. More importantly, it could be the reason you detect and survive lung cancer.”
Preventing Lung Cancer With Awareness and Screenings
If you have lung cancer risk factors, work with your healthcare provider to address them. Proactive steps today can protect you from serious health issues tomorrow.
- Asbestos, radiation therapy and other environmental exposure can put your lungs in harm’s way. So can a family history of lung cancer.
- Smoking continues to be the biggest risk factor for lung cancer. The risk remains whether you smoke cigarettes, cigars or a pipe.
- Low-dose CT screening for lung cancer can uncover the disease way before symptoms begin. Talk with your healthcare provider to find out if you’re a candidate.
Ask your doctor about low-dose CT lung screening. A physician's referral is required. To schedule an appointment, call 843-522-5015.
