These Facts About Lung Cancer Can Help You Understand Your Risk and When Screening May Be Important
When most people think about lung cancer, they connect it to smoking. But while smoking is the biggest risk factor, there's much more to know about this disease. In fact, some common beliefs about who gets lung cancer, what causes it and who should be screened simply aren't true. Clearing up these myths can help you make better decisions about your health.
Myth #1: Only smokers get lung cancer
Fact: Anyone can get lung cancer. Smoking is the leading cause, but about 10% to 20% of lung cancers in the U.S. occur in people who have never smoked or have smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime. Other risk factors include exposure to radon, secondhand smoke, air pollution, asbestos and certain chemicals in the workplace. Family history may also play a role.
Myth #2: If you smoked for years, quitting won't make a difference
Fact: It's never too late to quit. Lung cancer risk goes down after you stop smoking, even if you smoked for many years. Quitting also lowers your risk of other cancers, heart disease and lung disease. The sooner you quit, the more you benefit, but stopping at any age is good for your health.
Myth #3: Secondhand smoke isn't enough to cause lung cancer
Fact: You don't have to smoke a cigarette yourself to be exposed to harmful tobacco smoke. Secondhand smoke contains cancer-causing substances and can cause lung cancer in people who don't smoke. Avoiding cigarette, cigar and pipe smoke in your home, car and other places can help lower your exposure.
Myth #4: Radon isn't something most people need to worry about
Fact: Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that you can't see, smell or taste. It can enter homes through cracks and other openings in the foundation. Long-term exposure can cause lung cancer, even in people who have never smoked. The only way to know the radon level in your home is to test it.
Myth #5: You don't need lung cancer screening if you feel healthy
Fact: Screening is meant to find cancer before symptoms appear. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends yearly low-dose CT scans for adults ages 50 to 80 who have at least a 20 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years. A pack-year equates to smoking an average of one pack of cigarettes a day for one year or a half pack of cigarettes a day for two years.
Myth #6: Everyone should be screened for lung cancer
Fact: Lung cancer screening isn't recommended for everyone. For people at lower risk, the potential harm of screening may outweigh the benefits. Your age and smoking history help determine whether screening makes sense for you. Knowing the facts about lung cancer is important, especially if you smoke, used to smoke or have other risk factors. Talk to your doctor about your personal risk and whether there are steps you should take to protect your lung health, as well as whether screening is right for you.
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