6 Risk Factors and Causes of Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a cancer type that develops when cells in the lungs grow in an uncontrolled manner. It’s a severe condition that can cause serious harm to your health and even death. Statistics suggest that lung cancer is the third most common cancer in America, with more people (both men and women) dying from it than any other type of cancer. Understanding what can raise the possibility of developing lung cancer can help you find effective ways to safeguard against it. Discussed below are six risk factors and causes of lung cancer.

Asbestos

Asbestos exposure increases the lung cancer risk, and it occurs when people are exposed to asbestos for a long time. This chemical releases small toxic fibers into the air, which, once inhaled, get lodged in the tissues in your lungs. These fibers not only irritate but also damage lung cells, causing scarring and inflammation. Asbestos exposure can result in various lung cancer types, including the following:

  • Non-small lung cancer (NSLC): It’s a lung cancer comprised of large cells and has numerous subtypes, including squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma 
  • Small cell lung cancer (SCLC): This form of lung cancer consists of small cells and usually begins in the air passages in a victim’s lungs. Since SCLC grows and spreads rapidly, it usually responds very well to chemotherapy

Asbestos Lung Cancer causes chest pain, shortness of breath, and a cough. Since these signs resemble some respiratory conditions, diagnosis may be delayed. Once diagnosed with asbestos lung cancer, your treatment may include a combination of:

  • Surgery (for removing tumors)
  • Chemotherapy (to kill cancer cells)
  • Radiation (to prevent reoccurrence)
  • Immunotherapy (to boost your immune system to battle cancer cells)

Smoking

Smoking is the leading cause of many cancers, both in smokers and those exposed to secondhand smoke. It causes lung cancer through the creation of cell mutations. Cigarette smoke contains cancer-causing substances called carcinogens. Once the smoke is inhaled, these carcinogens cause changes in a victim’s lung cells almost instantly. While your body can detoxify and remove carcinogens, repeated exposure leaves some of these carcinogens in your body, causing cells to mutate and sometimes convert into cancerous cells.

Normal cell repair requires cells to continue dividing until all the damage is fixed, and good cells know when not to keep dividing. Conversely, cells with cancerous mutations lose their ability to determine when to stop and instead continue dividing and growing. While not every cell mutation is cancerous, inhaling more smoke means more mutations will grow, increasing the likelihood of one or some of them being cancerous. Quitting smoking and finding ways to avoid secondhand smoke can help prevent the risk of smoking-related lung cancer.

Radon gas

Radon is the leading lung cancer cause in non-smokers and causes around 21,000 lung cancer-related deaths yearly. Approximately 2,900 of these deaths happen among those who have never smoked. Being exposed to radon gas for a long time can cause lung cancer. When in the air, this gas breaks down into small radioactive elements that, once inhaled, get launched into a victim’s lung lining, where they can emit radiation. The radiation can destroy lung cells and later cause cancer. You may be exposed to radon gas through the following:

  • Water: Radon gas can dissolve and collect in drilled wells and other underground water sources in uranium-rich geological places. Radon in water may be released into the air when doing laundry, showering, or any other routine water use
  • Building materials: While most building materials release an insignificant quantity of radon naturally, some specific ones can be a major source of radon exposure. These materials (Italian tuff and phosphogypsum) usually have a mix of high radium levels and high porosity, allowing radon to escape

You can lower radon levels in your home by installing a radon reduction system and increasing airflow into your home using vents and fans and opening windows to circulate air. You can also seal cracks in walls and floors with caulk, plaster, and other materials.

Family history

Family history can increase your risk of getting lung cancer, which multiplies for those exposed to other risk factors, such as smoking or asbestos exposure. If any of your family members suffered lung cancer, you’re more likely to develop the disease than those without a history of lung cancer in their families. You have a higher lung cancer risk if your siblings, parents, or kids have had cancer. In addition, some genetic conditions can increase your likelihood of getting lung cancer, such as:

  • Lynch syndrome: This is a disorder caused by changes in specific genes that control DNA repair. Those with Lynch syndrome are at a higher risk of lung cancer and other cancer types
  • CHEK2: This is a gene that helps fix DNA damage. Changes in this gene increase the risk of cancer

Understanding your family history can help you take precautionary measures and ensure the disease is caught early. If any of your family members has lung cancer, speak to your healthcare provider about it and consider getting screened.

Air pollution

Air pollution (indoor and outdoor) is a combination of particles, chemicals, plus other substances in the air at levels that can hurt the environment or the comfort or health of animals, plants, and humans. Many forms of air pollution  are a mix of several hazardous substances, including the following:

  • Nitrogen oxides
  • Tiny particles in the air
  • Carbon monoxide
  • Sulphur oxides
  • Volatile organic compounds (VOC)

Outdoor air pollution increases the risk of lung cancer. The more you’re exposed to air pollution, the higher the possibility of developing lung cancer. You can reduce indoor air pollution by ensuring your house is well-ventilated and using air cleaners to remove particles from indoor air. In addition, avoid running fuel-burning engines or idling your car in a closed workshop or garage.

Age

Although you can get lung cancer at a young age, it’s common for people to be diagnosed with it after the age of 55.  Age is a major lung cancer risk factor; as people age, their cells amass more DNA damage from different exposures over time, including smoking and environmental toxins. This makes you more prone to getting cancerous mutations. In addition, the immune system becomes weak with age, lowering its ability to catch and get rid of possibly cancerous cells.

Endnote

Several things cause or increase the possibility of developing lung cancer. Familiarize yourself with the risk factors and causes of lung cancer, including asbestos, smoking, radon, family history, and air pollution.

About Author /

Our Editorial Team are writers and experts in their field. Their views and opinions may not always be the views of Wellbeing Magazine. If you are under the direction of medical supervision please speak to your doctor or therapist before following the advice and recommnedations in these articles.

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