About Lung Cancer

LUNG CANCER — NUMBER ONE CANCER KILLER

MORE PEOPLE DIE FROM LUNG CANCER THAN ANY OTHER TYPE OF CANCER. DEATHS FROM LUNG CANCER REPRESENT ABOUT ONE OUT OF EVERY SIX DEATHS FROM CANCER IN THE U.S. ALTHOUGH SMOKING IS A RISK FACTOR, INCREASINGLY MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT SMOKE ARE GETTING LUNG CANCER.

RISK FACTORS

  • Smoking
  • Secondhand smoke from other people’s cigarettes
  • Radon gas in the home
  • Things around home or work, including asbestos, ionizing
  • Radiation and other cancer-causing substances
  • Medical exposure to radiation to the chest
  • Chronic lung disease such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis
  • Increased age

PREVENTION

  • Don’t smoke—or if you do smoke, quit now
  • Avoid secondhand smoke
  • Test your home for radon and take action if high levels are found
  • Be aware of your exposure to radiation from medical imaging
  • Ask your doctor about the need for tests involving images of the chest
  • Follow health and safety guidelines in the workplace
  • Avoid diesel exhaust and other harmful air pollutants

SYMPTOMS

Different people have different symptoms for lung cancer. Some people don’t have any symptoms at all when first diagnosed with lung cancer. Symptoms include:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Coughing that doesn’t go away
  • Wheezing
  • Coughing up blood
  • Chest pain
  • Repeated respiratory infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia

Talk to your doctor if you have symptoms that concern you.
Source: www.cdc.gov