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?