Lung cancer can affect anyone – here’s what you should know

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S., and it can affect anyone. There are nearly 240,000 new cases of lung cancer annually nationwide and, while smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer, it’s not the only thing that can increase your risk of developing the disease. Environmental hazards and family history can also play a role.

Reducing your risk if you’re able and getting screened for lung cancer if you have a smoking history are the two biggest actions you can take to protect your lung health. We asked Abbie Begnaud, MD, a pulmonologist and lung cancer expert with M Health Fairview, for more information about risk factors, screening, and treatment. Read on for what you should know.

Smoking isn’t the only cause of lung cancer – radon is a big concern.

Smoking is the leading cause, accounting for roughly 80 to 90 percent of lung cancer-related deaths in the U.S., but lung cancer can affect non-smokers as well.

Radon, a radioactive gas often found inside homes, is the second-leading cause of lung cancer nationwide. Radon comes from the ground due to the natural breakdown of radium in soil. It can enter into homes and accumulate in the air, and long-term exposure to radon can lead to lung cancer.

Radon is a serious public health concern in our state. Two in five Minnesota homes have high radon levels, according to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). If you’re unsure about your home’s radon levels, you can purchase a radon test kit at a hardware store or through your state or county.

For more information on getting a test kit through MDH click here or visit this list of cities and counties providing radon testing offers.

Environmental hazards and family history can also play a part.

Secondhand smoke can cause lung cancer in people who have never smoked themselves, increasing a person’s risk of developing lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As with active smoking, the more often and the longer you’re exposed to secondhand smoke, the greater the risk.

Outdoor air pollution is also a serious and growing health concern, and certain particles related to air pollution are known to cause lung cancer. Outdoor air pollution causes over 4 million premature deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries. 

Begnaud recommends monitoring air quality in your area. Consider staying indoors or avoiding physical activity outside on days when air quality is worse. To track air quality in your zip code, click here. At home, a HEPA filter can remove these particles from indoor air. Options are available for either whole-home or room-specific filters and purifiers.

Environmental hazards like asbestos, diesel exhaust, and other chemicals have also been linked to lung cancer. For more information on risk factors, click here.

If you have a parent or sibling with lung cancer, it can also mean that you have a higher genetic risk for the disease. Especially if that person did not smoke, Begnaud said, it could be a sign of a genetic or exposure pattern. For example, you may both be exposed to the same environmental hazards.

Lung conditions, notably chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), can raise lung cancer risk. Risk factors can work together. If you have COPD, for example, your risk of developing lung cancer is even higher if you’re regularly exposed to environmental hazards that are known to cause the disease – as opposed to a person with COPD who isn’t exposed to the same environmental hazards.

Lung cancer treatment options are growing.

There have been over 20 new lung cancer therapies approved in just the last two years, said Begnaud, including new targeted methods that have fewer side effects and are more effective than previous treatment methods.

“Lung cancer has traditionally been a death sentence. That isn’t the case anymore,” said Begnaud. “I encourage people not to delay seeking medical attention because of stigma or the idea that it’s not treatable.”

Screening is beneficial for people at high risk.

“Only high-risk patients should be screened,” said Begnaud. “Screening can be lifesaving but also has potential downsides that do more harm than good if a person has a lower risk of lung cancer. Although other factors contribute to lung cancer risk, eligibility for screening is based mainly on a person’s smoking history.”

Yearly screening is currently recommended for people who meet the following criteria:

• Have smoked at least a pack of cigarettes a day for 20 or more years and
• Smoke now or have quit within the last 15 years and
• Are between 50 and 80 years old

For more information about lung cancer screening, click here.

“People who aren’t eligible for screening can try to control the space around them to the best they can, and if you have symptoms or a cough that doesn’t go away, seek medical attention,” said Begnaud.

For more information about lung cancer symptoms, click here.

Learn more about our lung cancer treatment program here.