Lung Cancer Causes & Factors That Put You at Risk

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and its incidence is on the rise. Every year, more and more people are diagnosed with the disease and the death toll continues to climb. 

There is no single cause of lung cancer. The disease develops over time as a result of a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors. However, smoking, exposure to radiation and other carcinogens, and a family history of the disease are the risk factors for developing lung cancer. Quitting smoking significantly reduces the risk of developing the disease. 

While the incidence of Lung Cancer Treatment has been declining in developed countries due to declining smoking rates, the disease remains a public health burden. The best way to prevent lung cancer is to avoid smoking and to be aware of the other risk factors. 

Causes & Factors That Put You at Risk of Getting  Lung Cancer

• Smoking and Age

In the past, lung cancer was predominantly found in people over the age of 45. This was because most people didn’t start smoking until later in life. However, people are starting to smoke at an earlier age, with many people picking up the habit in their early twenties. This means that by the time they reach their forties, they have already accumulated a significant amount of tar and other harmful substances in their lungs. As a result, we are now seeing more and more cases of lung cancer in people under the age of 45.

• Genetics

If your parents or grandparents had lung cancer, your risk is high. This is because it   is often caused by genetic factors. So, if you have a family history of the disease, you should be extra careful to avoid smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke. You should also get regular check-ups and screenings so that it can be caught early and treated effectively.

• Exposure to Chemicals and Pollutants 

Lung cancer can be caused by a variety of chemicals and pollutants. These include tobacco smoke, radon, asbestos, and air pollution. While some of these causes are more well-known than others, all of them can contribute to the development of lung cancer. Asbestos is known to be a carcinogen and asbestos exposure can increase your risk of developing this illness.

• Air Pollution 

Air pollution is another cause of lung cancer. Pollutants in the air, such as particulate matter and ozone, can damage the lungs and increase your risk of developing the disease.

Lung cancer can be a very difficult disease to treat. It is often not found until it is in an advanced stage. By the time most people with this illness see a doctor, cancer would have  already spread to other parts of the body. This makes it hard to treat. 

Types of Lung Cancer

There are two main types of lung cancer: 

• Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)    
• Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) 

Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) is the most common type of this disease. It is one of the most aggressive and ‘difficult to treat forms of lung cancer. It is characterized by the abnormal growth of small, round cells in the lungs. SCLC typically spreads quickly and can be difficult to detect in its early stages. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) is the second most common type of lung cancer. NSCLC is a type of lung cancer that does not respond well to traditional treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. While NSCLC can be difficult to treat, several new and innovative treatments seem to be promising in clinical trials. 

Lung Cancer Prevention

There are several things you can do to reduce your risk of lung cancer. If you smoke, the best thing you can do is to quit. Quitting smoking reduces your risk of getting the disease even if you have smoked for many years.

If you are exposed to second-hand smoke, avoid it as much as possible. Second-hand smoke is the smoke that comes from the burning end of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar and the smoke exhaled by a smoker.

You can also reduce your risk of lung cancer by avoiding exposure to other known lung cancer risks, such as radon and asbestos.

Lung cancer can take your life and it’s important to know about its causes, factors and prevention. We hope this post has given you insight into lung cancer and what causes it. However, if you are looking for radiation therapy or chemotherapy, you can consult a radiation therapist for the treatment.