KNOW YOUR LUNG CANCER RISK FACTORS
- Smoking cigarettes is linked to 80 to 90 percent of lung cancer deaths in men and women.
- Exposure to secondhand smoke at home or work increases the chances of lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent.
- Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer. It can be found in homes, buildings and schools but occurs naturally in soil, water and rock.
- Tiny fibers of asbestos, inhaled, can become lodged in lung tissue. Asbestos was banned decades ago; but is still present in the environment.
- Exposure to materials like uranium, arsenic, vinyl chloride, coal products, mustard gas, diesel exhaust and others may increase your risk of lung cancer.
- Air pollution like diesel engine exhaust, metals, dust and solvents — found in products like paint, personal care products, nail polish remover and household cleaners — may increase your risk for lung cancer.
- Family history, like parents or siblings with lung cancer, increases your risk
- Older age makes you more likely to get cancer. Close to 90 percent of people diagnosed with lung cancer are 55 or older.
- Other lung diseases like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or pulmonary fibrosis increase your risk of getting lung cancer.
- A combination of exposures, like being a smoker who also was exposed to asbestos, may increase your chances of getting lung cancer.
