Who is at risk for lung cancer?

Are you at risk of lung cancer?

Everyone. As long as we have a pair of lungs, we will be at risk of developing cancer. However, not all is too grim. There are individuals who may have a higher risk of developing cancer than others i.e. smokers.

Cigarette smoking is considered as the highest risk factor in developing lung cancer. Consider these evidence extracted from the WHO 2002 Global Smoking Statistics:-Smoking related diseases kill one in 10 adults globally, or cause four million deaths every year. At this current trend, smoking will kill one in six people by 2030.
To put this into a clearer perspective, every eight seconds, someone dies from smoking or tobacco use.

Cigarette smoking or tobacco use is directly responsible for approximately 30% of all cancer deaths annually in the United States and this is not confined to lung cancer alone but other types of cancer as well. Cigarette smoke also increase the likelihood of the development of other types of cancer i.e. oral cavity, throat, digestive tract and even bladder.
The downplay of the detrimental effect of smoking is evidently seen around us. Films and television shows continue to depict actors who light up in time of panic or crisis paints a wrong picture that smoking helps one to stay calm. Young minds, especially adolescents will fall prey to such suggestions and they will mimic the character portrayed in the movie. Succumbing to peer pressure will often make them start smoking and hence make them a slave to the cigarette.

According to the WHO statistics, 80,000 and 100,000 children worldwide start smoking every day and 49% of them live in Asia. Studies have also proven that around 50% of those who start smoking in adolescent years go on to smoke for the next 15 to 20 years.

Since smoking is habit forming, starting young will increase the likelihood to continue to a ripe age and the tobacco industry is fully aware of this. Capitalizing on this knowledge, the tobacco industry invest heavily in advertisement to reach out to the youth by circumventing laws in stricter countries but flaunting it in developing nations especially governments that rely on taxation income generated by tobacco sales.
Smoking is on the rise in the developing world but falling in developed nations and among Americans, smoking rates shrunk by half in three decades from the 1960s to 1990s falling to 23% by 1997. The success in reducing the number of new smokers are attributed primarily to anti-smoking campaigns, creation of more smoke free zone and increased publicity of the ill effects of smoking.

Second hand smokers are also not spared from getting cancer. Cigarettes produce about 12 minutes of smoke but the smoker inhale only 30 seconds from their cigarette. The rest of the smoke lingers in the air for non-smokers and smokers to breathe. Second-hand smoke contains more than 4000 chemicals and many of these chemicals are proven to cause cancer. Prolonged exposure to second hand smoke will surely increase the risk similar to a smoker. Smokers who are exposed to second hand smoke develop even higher risk.

Living in an environment that has poor air quality due to traffic or industrial pollution can increase the likelihood to get lung cancer. Radon exposure has been proven as another strong cause of lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today.

Homes that have been built over area where radon can permeate into the air result in a high indoor radon level which increases the likelihood of lung cancer. It is an odorless and unseen radioactive gas that comes from the natural decay of uranium that can be found in the soil, rock or water.

Once radon is inhaled into the lung, it undergoes further radioactive decay and releases small bursts of energy called alpha particles that cause mutation in DNA or create free radicals that will lead to development of cancer cells. The EPA recommends Radon test are conducted in all new housing area. More information are available from this site (http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs /citguide.html#overview)

Occupa tional hazards may also contribute to lung cancer. People working with materials that contain asbestos are at higher risk. . Asbestos are made up microscopic thin fibers that suspend in the air and upon inhalation will be lodged in the lungs and eventually cause cancer.

Asbestos by far is the time tested and scientifically proven agent that induce cancer of the lungs. In the United States, asbestos is still used and is often present in a wide variety of materials, including vinyl floor tiles, sheeting, adhesives, fireproofing materials, brake pads and even shoes. The European Union and Australia has banned all use of asbestos due to its potential health hazard.

In summary, all of us are at risk of lung cancer and we can reduce our risks by changing our lifestyle. Living in a smoke free environment not only prevents lung cancer but it can contribute to better overall health. The leading cause of lung cancer- smoking is a preventable risk. Overcoming the nicotine addiction can be easily accomplished especially with the advent of pharmaceutical products that stems the nicotine craving center in the brain. Radon proofing one's home and choosing not to use asbestos derived products are also wise decisions to make.

Reduce the risks and lung cancer will be kept at bay.