Am I at Risk?
Lung cancer kills more people than any other cancer. 30% of all cancer deaths are due to lung cancer. It kills .three times as many men as prostate cancer, and twice as many women as breast cancer. It is a slow growing, deadly cancer that can take 20 to 30 years to develop.Symptoms, like a persistent cough or bloody sputum, do not usually appear until it has already spread beyond the original site, too late for surgical removal.
Over 50% of new lung cancer cases are being diagnosed in former smokers, many of whom had quit decades ago. About 35% of new cases are current smokers. Females who smoke or used to smoke seem to be at higher risk for lung cancer.
However, over 20,000 people who have never smoked are now being diagnosed each year and that number appears to be rising, especially among women.
Some people whose parent or brother or sister had lung cancer are at increased risk of lung cancer, especially if the person smokes or smoked and the parent or brother or sister was young.
African-American males have a 50% higher chance of getting lung cancer than white males, even though they smoke less.
People exposed to radon, a radioactive gas that can be in houses, are at increased risk of lung cancer.
People who work with asbestos also have a higher risk of getting a form of cancer called mesothelioma. If they smoke as well, the risk is greatly increased.
Veterans, especially those who served on active duty on submarines, or in Vietnam or the Gulf War with exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides and carcinogens (cancer causing agents) may be at higher risk.
Other risk factors for lung cancer include certain cancer-causing agents in the environment, aging, and lung scarring from some types of pneumonia.