Known Causes Of Lung Cancer

During the early part of the last century, the popularity of cigarette smoking underwent explosive growth among men. Two decades later, women caught on to the smoking craze and became habitual smokers. Today, lung cancer claims nearly 150,000 lives each year; eighty percent of cases are directly attributed to cigarettes. Despite it’s devastating effects, lung cancer is largely avoidable. Learning some simple health facts can make all the difference in the world

While smoking is the leading cause of the disease, there are other, less prevalent causes. We will cover habitual smoking, secondary smoke and other harmful exposure elements that can cause lung cancer.

Habitual Smoking

Doctors measure the risk that a patient might develop lung cancer by considering two variables. They want the medical history of the smokers usage in regards to how many packs a day and how long the patient has been a smoker. The larger the number, the more risk of the disease manifesting. Most smokers believe that there is little risk with cigars and pipes, the risk however remains.

Smoke from a cigarette includes 1000′s of chemicals. Some of them, like nitrosamines, are known to be carcinogenic. Over time and exposure, these chemical compounds attack and damage the bronchi, and lead to malignant tumors. The disease spreads as the cancer cells attack the heart, causing it to enlarge.

Secondary Smoke

Many people mistakenly believe that inhaling secondhand smoke does not represent a risk of developing lung cancer. In fact, it does. Thousands of people in the U.S. die each year from developing the disease after constant exposure to secondhand smoke. For example, patients who do not smoke cigarettes, but live with an habitual smoker are 24% more likely to suffer from the disease.

Exposure To Asbestos

Years ago, asbestos was used liberally within houses, apartments, and office buildings in order to insulate them. Unfortunately, while it provides effective insulation, asbestos also damages the tissue within the lungs. Given time and prolonged exposure, that damage can lead to cancer. Further, asbestos significantly increases the likelihood of a smoker developing the disease. For example, a non-smoker who works with the material is 5 times more likely to be affected than someone who does not work with it. By contrast, a smoker who works with asbestos is up to 90 times more likely.

Other Risk Factors

There are other risk factors besides those mentioned above. For example, people who are exposed to radon gas, arsenic, nickel, and chloromethyl ethers on a regular basis run the risk of developing lung cancer. Genetics also plays an important role. A patient may be more susceptible to the disease if someone in his or her immediate family has had it.

Once diagnosed, a doctor will recommend a number of possible treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery. If the disease is identified early enough, it is possible for the doctor to treat it successfully and for the patient to enjoy a long, healthy life.