Lung Cancer: Risk Factors

What is a risk factor?

A risk factor is anything that increases your chance of getting a disease. For cancer, risk factors can be what you eat and drink, if you smoke, where you work, and your family's health history.

It's normal to worry if you have a risk factor for cancer. But keep a few things in mind:

  • Risk factors can increase a person's chance of getting cancer. But they are not always the cause of cancer. Often, the exact cause is unknown.

  • A person with few or no risk factors can develop cancer. But a person with many risk factors may never develop cancer.

  • Some risk factors, like family health history, are not in your control. But other risk factors, like smoking, are in your power to change.

Smoking and lung cancer

Smoking tobacco is by far the leading risk factor for lung cancer. The longer you smoke, and the more you smoke each day, the higher your risk. Cigarettes are the main cause. But cigar and pipe smoking are almost as likely to cause cancer. Smoking is linked to about 8 in 10 lung cancer deaths.

For people who smoke, hearing this may feel scary. But it’s important to know that you are in control of this risk factor. Quitting smoking can greatly lower your risk for lung cancer. This is true even if you have smoked for many years. Ask your healthcare provider for help quitting.

Other risk factors for lung cancer

While people who smoke tend to be at the greatest risk, those who have never smoked at all can still get lung cancer. Other risk factors include:

Secondhand smoke

Breathing in other people’s smoke raises your own risk for lung cancer. But the truth is, it can be hard to avoid. This is very hard for children of people who smoke. Keeping your home (and car) smoke-free is a great first step to protecting your loved ones.

Radon

Radon is a type of gas. It is colorless, odorless, and radioactive. It comes from rocks and soil. Outside, levels of radon are rarely a concern. It becomes an issue when it builds up in the lower parts of buildings, such as basements. People who have lived for a long time in homes with high levels of radon are at a higher risk for lung cancer. Radon is the second most common cause of lung cancer in the U.S.

The good news: If your home has high levels of radon, you can fix the problem. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has resources at www.epa.gov/radon.

Asbestos

Asbestos is a mineral fiber. It is found in rocks and soil. Breathing it in can raise your risk for lung cancer.

For years, companies have used asbestos in insulation and other products. The people who work with these products face a risk for exposure. But standards have been set to lower these risks. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has more information at www.osha.gov/asbestos.

Chemicals

Exposure to some chemicals can cause lung cancer. These include arsenic, silica, coal products, and other chemicals that are mostly found in the workplace. If you work with chemicals, make sure to follow all health and safety guidelines.

Air pollution

Air pollution from cars and trucks, industrial fumes, and wildfires can raise your risk for lung cancer.

Radiation therapy to the chest

Radiation therapy to the chest can be a vital treatment for diseases like breast cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma. But people who have had it are at a higher risk for lung cancer.

Personal history of lung cancer

People who have had lung cancer are at risk to have it again.

Family history of lung cancer

People with a family history of lung cancer have a higher risk for lung cancer. The risk is higher if a parent, brother, or sister had it. Some of this risk might be from shared household risk factors, such as tobacco smoke or radon. Some of the risk may be in shared genes. For example, some gene changes that run in families have been linked to a higher risk for lung cancer. This can even affect people who have never smoked.

Looking at your risk factors

Talking with your healthcare provider about your risk factors can bring you greater peace of mind. You may find you can take steps to lower your risk, such as testing your home for radon or avoiding contact with certain workplace chemicals.

If you’ve smoked for a long time and want to quit, you can always ask your healthcare provider for help. The CDC offers resources. Find out more at www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/index.htm.

If you are age 50 to 80 and a current or former smoker, you may qualify for lung cancer screening. A screening test can sometimes find the cancer early when it tends to be easier to treat. Ask your healthcare provider if lung cancer screening is right for you.