Lung cancer risk factors include smoking, air pollution, exposure to toxins, and a family history of lung cancer. Understanding these risk factors may help people reduce their chances of developing lung cancer.
Risk factors are things that increase the chances of a person developing a condition. However, they do not predict who will or will not develop a disease.
This article looks at the risk factors for lung cancer and how to reduce their impact. It then looks at lung cancer symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
According to the
- smoking tobacco
- secondhand smoke
- radon exposure
- asbestos exposure
- exposure to other cancer-causing substances, such as radioactive ores, arsenic, or diesel fumes
- air pollution
- family history of lung cancer
Some of these risk factors, such as a person’s family history, are fixed. This means a person cannot change them. However, eliminating risk factors that are not fixed can help a person lower their risk of developing lung cancer.
Having risk factors does not necessarily mean an individual will get lung cancer. Similarly, it is possible for people with no apparent risk factors to develop lung cancer.
Currently, it is unclear whether the following factors affect a person’s lung cancer risk:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tobacco smoke contributes to
This percentage may be higher for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) because this type of cancer is extremely rare in people who never smoke.
People who smoke are 15–30 times more likely to develop lung cancer than those who do not. The longer and more frequently a person smokes, the greater the risk.
Secondhand smoke
People who do not smoke but breathe in the smoke from others are also at an increased risk of lung cancer.
Secondhand smoke is the third most common risk factor for lung cancer, responsible for an estimated 3,000 deaths from lung cancer each year.
Air pollution occurs when harmful particles and gases enter the air people breathe. It is prevalent in urban and densely populated areas.
According to an older study in Thorax, experts estimate that air pollution may be responsible for 712,000 deaths worldwide each year, with 62,000 of those being the result of lung cancer. However, more research is necessary to determine if these estimates are correct.
Several types of radiation exposure can increase the risk of lung cancer. They include:
Radon exposure
Radon is one of the leading causes of lung cancer for people who do not smoke. It is responsible for around 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year.
Radon is a naturally occurring gas. Outside, it is unlikely to endanger people. Indoors, radon can be more concentrated. Long-term radon exposure indoors can lead to lung cancer.
Radiation therapy
People undergo radiation therapy as a treatment for cancer. However, radiation therapy on the chest
In many cases, this risk is unavoidable, as the benefits of radiation therapy for people with other types of cancer typically outweigh the risks.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is carcinogenic, or cancer-causing. Before doctors understood its dangers, people used asbestos as a material in construction, car manufacturing, and industrial settings.
Breathing in asbestos
Other carcinogens may pose a risk for people who regularly come into contact with them. This
- arsenic
- cadmium
- beryllium
- silica
- vinyl chloride
- nickel compounds
- chromium compounds
- coal products
- mustard gas
- chloromethyl ethers
Close family members of individuals diagnosed with lung cancer have a
People are also more likely to get lung cancer again if they have had it previously.
It is not always possible to prevent lung cancer. Some risk factors, such as previous radiation exposure and family history, cannot be changed.
However, some of the most significant risk factors are avoidable. People can reduce their risk of lung cancer by:
- Stopping smoking: According to the
CDC , people who stop smoking halve their risk of developing cancer within 10 years of quitting. As such, it is never too late to stop smoking. People can find free resources for quitting smoking at Smokefree.gov. - Avoiding secondhand smoke: If someone in the household smokes, ask them to go outside so that others do not inhale the smoke. Keep cars and other enclosed spaces smoke free.
- Testing the home for carcinogens: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that everyone tests their home for radon. People can learn about finding radon testing on their website. People can also
test their drinking water for arsenic or cadmium. - Avoiding carcinogens at work: Check whether substances could be carcinogenic and follow health and safety guidelines when working with them. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides advice on what to do if a company is not following these guidelines.
- Improving indoor air quality: It is not always possible to avoid air pollution outdoors, but people can do things to improve indoor air quality. This includes removing any sources of carcinogens, such as smoke and open fires, and improving ventilation. Seek professional guidance on removing or containing asbestos.
People in high-risk groups for lung cancer can also get an
Lung cancer develops when abnormal cells grow in a disorganized fashion, forming malignant tumors and damaging the surrounding tissue.
Toxins from tobacco and other environmental risk factors contribute to this by damaging cell DNA, which changes how the cells behave.
There are
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
This is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for
- adenocarcinoma, which starts in the lung’s outer areas, meaning doctors can find it more easily before it spreads
- squamous cell carcinoma, which occurs on the lining of the airways in the lungs
- large cell (undifferentiated) carcinoma, which can appear anywhere in the lungs, growing and spreading rapidly
Adenosquamous carcinoma and sarcomatoid carcinoma are less common subtypes.
SCLC
SCLC accounts for around 10–15% of lung cancers. Unfortunately, this type grows and spreads quickly. Among individuals with SCLC, 70% have cancer that has spread to other parts of the body by the time doctors make a diagnosis.
Because there are few nerve endings in the lungs, cancer may not cause any pain. Symptoms may only appear when the disease progresses.
Potential symptoms
- a persistent cough that worsens over time
- coughing up blood or rust-colored phlegm
- hoarseness
- chest pain that gets worse while coughing, breathing deeply, or laughing
- shortness of breath or wheezing
- frequent chest infections
- unexplained weight loss and tiredness
People should seek a doctor’s advice if they notice any of these symptoms.
Lung cancer treatment can vary depending on the type and severity of the cancer. Doctors
- surgery to remove tumors
- chemotherapy drugs to shrink or kill cancerous cells
- radiation therapy
- targeted therapy drugs to block the growth and spread of cancer
Individuals with SCLC
The primary lung cancer risk factors are smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke, radon, air pollution, and other carcinogens. A personal or family history of lung cancer also raises the risk.
People can mitigate the risk of developing lung cancer by stopping smoking, addressing environmental concerns such as radon and asbestos, and keeping the home and other enclosed spaces free from cancer-causing substances wherever possible.