Did you know that non-smokers can be impacted by lung cancer risks?
Most of the advice you hear about preventing lung cancer, although well-meaning, is often linked just to smoking.
But what if you've never smoked? Being a non-smoker doesn't automatically clear you from the risk of lung cancer.
Tobacco usage is one of the many factors that can lead to the disease. But the truth is that nearly 20 percent of people who die from lung cancer in the U.S. annually don't smoke or use any form of tobacco, according to the American Cancer Society.
"It's true that the majority of people with lung cancer have some history of tobacco use," Andrea, McKee, MD, a Lung Association spokesperson told Health.com. "Having said that, 15% of patients diagnosed with lung cancer have no history of tobacco use -- and they may be quite young."
McKee states that lung cancer is highly curable when diagnosed early. Below are risk factors and symptoms that smokers and non-smokers alike should know.
Risk Factors
Personal or family history of lung cancer
If you’ve had lung cancer, you have a greater risk of developing another lung cancer.
Also, a strong family history of the disease (brothers, sisters, and children of people who have had lung cancer) is linked to increased risk, researchers say.
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Carcinogens in the workplace
In recent years, the government has taken steps to better protect workers from exposure to carcinogens (cancer-causing agents). If you’re exposed to the following, you are putting yourself at risk:
- Radioactive ores like uranium.
- Chemicals such as arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, silica, vinyl chloride, nickel compounds, chromium compounds, coal products, mustard gas, and chloromethyl ethers can prove to be lethal if inhaled.
- Diesel exhaust.
- Asbestos (exposure is common among mine workers as well as people who work on shipyards and where insulation is used).
Secondhand smoke
Breathing in the smoke of others can increase your risk of developing lung cancer.
In fact, secondhand smoke is thought to account for more than 7,000 deaths from lung cancer each year.
Symptoms
Body aches and muscle soreness
You may experience chest pains, severe, dull pain in your shoulders, or soreness and weakness in your bones.
Over time, this aching pain can worsen, especially at night.
Persistent cough
We’re not talking about an allergy-induced cough attack, but persistent cough.
If your cough lingers or several weeks, it can be an early sign of lung cancer.
During the latter stages, sufferers have also been known to cough up blood or mucus.
Difficulty swallowing
Gagging on your food?
Lung cancer can make it difficult to swallow as well as create a feeling that something is caught in your throat.
This can point to inflammation of the esophagus, also known as dysphagia – a fatal warning sign as patients who display this symptom are at an increased risk of dying.
Respiratory illness
Persistent respiratory diseases like bronchitis or pneumonia can be a sign of malignant tumors in your lungs.
Unexpected weight loss
Though losing 10-pounds here or gaining 10-pounds there is totally normal, a sudden drop in weight should never be ignored, experts say. It could be linked to serious health conditions such as lung cancer. You want to pay attention if you have a lack of energy, too. This could be the result of lung cancer.
