Frequently Asked Questions About Lung Cancer
What causes lung cancer?
90% of lung cancers occur in individuals with a history of smoking cigarettes. The risks of developing lung cancer are approximately thirty times greater in smokers than in non-smokers. This risk increases in proportion with the number of cigarette packs smoked per year and the number of years smoked. Cigar and pipe smoke are potentially more dangerous; they are associated with a lung cancer risk twice that for cigarette smokers.
Exposure to air pollution, radiation and industrial chemicals such as asbestos, arsenic, nickel and chromium may also increase your risk for developing lung cancer.
Can lung cancer be detected early?
Once symptoms appear, lung cancer is often found to be widespread or advanced. Because chest X-rays are not indicated for lung cancer screening, it is very important that patients with characteristic symptoms see their doctor promptly. Smokers, who often attribute a persistent cough to "smoker's cough," should see their physician on a regular basis.
Does a negative chest X-ray mean that I don’t have lung cancer?
Although a negative chest X-ray is an encouraging result, it does not rule out the possibility for microscopic disease. There is a chance that cancer cells have spread to the lungs but have not grown large enough to be detected by this scan. All radiographic tests are limited by there ability to resolve very small areas of disease. Follow-up scans may be recommended in order to monitor your progress.
Are all lung cancers treated the same?
No. There are two predominant types of lung cancer, small cell and non-small cell. Although the same techniques (radiation therapy, chemotherapy, surgery) are used to treat both, your treatment will be tailored depending on your diagnosis and clinical stage. Different chemotherapy drugs, and different combinations of therapies are typically used to treat the two forms of lung cancer.
What are common symptoms of lung cancer?
In its earliest stages, lung cancer is usually asymptomatic. Latter stage symptoms include:
- Chronic cough (a duration of 2 weeks of longer)
- Hoarseness
- Coughing up blood
- Fever (unexplained)
- Repeated bronchitis and/or pneumonia
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Shortness of breath
What risks are associated with second-hand smoke?
Second-hand smoke contains two times more tar and nicotine per unit volume than smoke directly from a cigarette. More significantly, second hand smoke contains three times more cancer causing compounds and thirty times more carbon monoxide than first-hand smoke. Second-hand smoke is responsible for thousands of cases of lung cancer and asthma each year.
Do the risks decrease significantly after quitting? How long does it take for the benefits to be detected?
Within twenty minutes of your last cigarette, detectable changes occur in the body:
20 minutes after quitting:
- Blood pressure decreases
- Pulse rate drops
- Body temperature of your hands and feet increases
At 8 hours:
- Carbon monoxide levels in your blood return to normal
- Oxygen saturation of your blood increases to normal values
At 24 hours:
- Chance of having a heart attack decreases
At 48 hours:
- Nerve endings start to regenerate
- Ability to small and taste improves
2 weeks to 3 months after quitting:
- Circulation improves
- Walking becomes easier
- Lung function increases
At 1 to 9 months:
- Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, shortness of breath decreases
After 1 year:
- Excess risk of coronary heart disease is decreased to half that of a smoker
At 5 years:
- Stroke risk is reduced to that of people who have never smoked.
At 10 years:
- Risk of lung cancer drops to as little as one-half that of continuing smokers
- Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decreases
- Risk of ulcer decreases
At 15 years:
- Risk of coronary heart disease is now similar to that of people who have never smoked
- Risk of death returns to nearly the level of people who have never smoked
Can I pass lung cancer on to my children?
Scientists have found a genetic mutation that is present in about ten percent of lung cancer patients. Although having this mutation (or passing it to your children) may predispose an individual to lung cancer, numerous environmental and genetic factors play a role in progression to disease. The best prevention of lung cancer, regardless of your genetic composition, is abstaining from smoking or smoking cessation.
What risk is associated with asbestos exposure?
Asbestos fibers can cause serious health problems. If inhaled, these tiny fibers can cause normal functions of the lungs to be disturbed. Exposure increases the risk of developing lung cancer, mesothelioma, or asbestosis. The risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma increases with the number of fibers inhaled. The risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibers is also greater if you smoke. People who get asbestosis have usually been exposed to high levels of asbestos for a long time. The symptoms of these diseases do not usually appear until about 20 to 30 years after the first exposure to asbestos. Most people exposed to small amounts of asbestos, as we all are in our daily lives, do not develop these health problems.
Intact and undisturbed asbestos-containing material does not pose a health risk. Asbestos becomes a problem when, due to damage, disturbance, or deterioration over time, the material releases asbestos fibers into the air.
