Lung Cancer
Causes
Smoking is by far the leading risk factor for lung cancer. Tobacco smoke causes more than 8 out of 10 cases of lung cancer. Cigar and pipe smoking are almost as likely to cause lung cancer as is cigarette smoking. There is no evidence that smoking low tar cigarettes reduces the risk of lung cancer.
People who don’t smoke but who breathe the smoke of others also have a higher risk of lung cancer. Non-smoking spouses of smokers, for example, have a 30% greater risk of developing lung cancer than do spouses of nonsmokers.
Hookah smoking (use of a water pipe) has become popular among young people. Although there is less tobacco in the product used for hookahs, hookah smoking is not safe. The smoke contains the same cancer-causing substances as cigarettes, including nicotine which is addictive.
Arsenic, if found in high levels in drinking water, may increase the risk of lung cancer.
Asbestos is another risk factor for lung cancer. People who work with asbestos have a higher risk of getting lung cancer.
Radon is a radioactive gas made by the natural breakdown of uranium, which is found at higher than normal levels in the soil in some parts of the United States.
Marijuana cigarettes have more tar than regular cigarettes, which predispose to .
Radiation treatment to the lung: People who have had radiation to the chest to treat cancer are at higher risk for lung cancer, especially if they smoke.
Diseases such as silicosis and berylliosis (caused by breathing in certain minerals) also increase the risk of lung cancer.
Personal and family history: If you have had lung cancer, you have a higher risk of getting another lung cancer. Brothers, sisters, and children of people who have had lung cancer may have a slightly higher risk themselves.
Diet: Some reports suggest that a diet low in fruits and vegetables might increase the risk of lung cancer in people who are exposed to tobacco smoke. It may turn out that fruits and vegetables help protect against lung cancer.
Air pollution: In some cities, air pollution may increase the risk of lung cancer. But the risk is still far less than that caused by smoking.
[ Information as per American Cancer Society]
Prevention: The best way to prevent lung cancer is not to smoke and to avoid people who do. If you already smoke, you should try to quit. You should also avoid breathing in other people’s smoke.
A good diet—as per the American Cancer Society—with lots of fruits and vegetables may also help prevent lung cancer.
Screenings Tests for Lung Cancer:
- Chest x-rays and checking sputum (spit) under a microscope to look for cancer cells
- X-ray method called spiral CT scanning has shown some promise in finding early lung cancer in smokers and former smokers.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer
Although most lung cancers do not cause symptoms until they have spread, you should report any of the following to your doctor right away. Often these problems are caused by something other than cancer. But if lung cancer is found, getting treatment right away could help you live longer and relieve symptoms. The most common symptoms are:
- a cough that does not go away
- chest pain, often made worse by deep breathing
- hoarseness
- weight loss and loss of appetite
- bloody or rust-colored sputum (spit or phlegm)
- shortness of breath
- infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia that keep coming back
- new onset of wheezing
When lung cancer spreads to distant organs, it may cause:
- bone pain
- weakness or numbness of the arms or legs
- dizziness or seizure
- yellow coloring of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
- masses near the surface of the body, caused by cancer spreading to the skin or to lymph nodes in the neck or above the collarbone
If you have any of these problems, you should see a doctor right away.
Treatment Centers in Georgia:
Support Groups:
- Lung Cancer online
- Lung Cancer Alliance
- Lung Cancer Alliance - Georgia
- The Lung Cancer Alliance is the only national non-profit organization dedicated solely to advocating for people living with lung cancer or those at risk for the disease. Our initiatives aim to educate public policy leaders of the need for greater resources for lung cancer research while changing the face of lung cancer and reducing the stigma associated with the disease. We offer unique patient education and support programs focused on helping people directly affected by lung cancer. Contacts: Ed Levitt & Linda Levitt. Phone Cell: 404-242-7414; Phone Office: 770-590-7898
- Saint Joseph Hospital support group
- American Lung Association of Georgia
Lung Cancer
- Lung Cancer Caring Ambassadors Program, Georgia statewide; telephone support network
- Contact: Tom Simon 1 (800) 886-5199
- Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Atlanta
- Cancer Center Conference Room, 3rd Tuesday, 10 a.m.
- Contact: Renee Rickles (404) 851-5051
- Winship Cancer Institute, Atlanta
- WCI, Room C2006, 2nd Wednesday, 11 a.m.
- Contact: Jim Hankins (404) 778-5716
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