Lung cancer is considered the third most common cancer in both men and women in the UK, and the second and third most diagnosed form of cancer among men and women in the EU respectively. It accounts for a very high number of cancer-related mortalities, despite having a high cure rate (80-90%) in its earliest stages.
As a response to this, there have been many developments in the biotech industry devoted to developing sensitive biomarkers for proper, early diagnosis of cancer-related conditions. These blood-based biomarker assays improve treatment outcomes while lowering costs by regular monitoring of disease development.
While early detection can save lives, there has also been considerable attention on risk factors and lung cancer prevention. In this article, we will discuss what risk factors for lung cancer are, types of risk factors, and some lifestyle choices we can make to reduce the potential of developing cancer, while keeping in mind that genetics also play a part.
What are risk factors?
Risk factors for a particular disease are conditions that increase your chance of getting the disease. Different diseases have different risk factors associated with them. Some of these risk factors, such as smoking, can be changed, while others, like age and sex, cannot be changed.
The risk factors for developing lung cancer are described as Modifiable or Non-modifiable.
Modifiable Risk Factors
Modifiable risk factors for lung cancer are traits that can be changed. They include:
Primary Smoking: Primary smoking is the single most common risk factor for developing lung cancer. About 90% of those with lung cancer have a history of smoking. It is known that tobacco smoke contains a variety of chemicals called carcinogens and toxicants, which, when accumulated in the lungs, can destroy the cells of the lungs. Persistent destruction of the lung cells will subsequently result in the development of malignant cells. The more and longer you smoke, the higher your possibility of getting lung cancer. Hence, you should quit smoking if you smoke tobacco in any form.
Inhalation of second-hand smoke: Although some people don't smoke themselves, they frequently hang around areas where people do. This is common for those who work in environments where smoking is prevalent, or the children and other close relatives of smokers. Lung cancer risk is increased when one is exposed to second-hand smoke, which is produced when cigarettes or other tobacco products burn and are exhaled by smokers. Even though it is present in smaller amounts, second-hand smoke still includes the same carcinogens that can be inhaled.
Occupational exposure: Some industries work with chemicals that have carcinogenic constituents. When the workers are exposed to these chemicals for a long time, the cells of their lungs could be damaged, leading to a higher tendency of getting lung cancer. Industries using such chemicals include rubber manufacturing, iron and steel founding, coal gasification, coke production, chimney sweeping, commercial painting, roofing and paving, and industries that use the Acheson process to create silicon carbide.
Occupational chemicals implicated as risk factors for lung cancer are:
Asbestos: Asbestos has been widely used in building constructions and some industries. People with the highest risk of exposure include workers in asbestos mines, the automotive sector (brake and clutch repair workers), shipyards, cement plants, plumbing and heating tradespeople, construction, painters, carpenters, and electricians.
Arsenic: Drinking water can be contaminated with arsenic due to natural soil sources or industrial processes like mining. While the precise mechanisms by which arsenic causes cellular alterations remain incompletely understood, research conducted worldwide repeatedly shows that high levels of arsenic in drinking water are related to an increased risk of lung cancer.
Radon: It is a colourless, odourless, and tasteless gas produced when uranium naturally decays in rocks and soil. Although radon diffuses naturally in the open because of the fresh air, it can generate dangerous amounts when it seeps into structures through dirt floors or foundation cracks, especially in small, poorly ventilated places. Radon can damage the cells lining your lungs when inhaled. The length and intensity of radon exposure determine the level of risk, with smokers having noticeably higher risks than non-smokers.
- Air pollution: Airborne chemicals and tiny particle matter combine to form air pollution. It comes from natural and artificial causes, such as dust blown by the wind and pollutants from cars and factories. Furthermore, the term air pollution refers to a variety of naturally occurring materials and man-made ones. Examples of these include industrial and vehicular emissions and smoke produced by burning coal or wood. Prolonged exposure to polluted air could predispose you to getting.
- Radiation: Exposure to radiation for an extended period has been linked to not only lung cancer but also cancers of other parts of the body. Persons in radiotherapy and those working in radiation industries are at high risk of being exposed to radiation
Non-modifiable risk factors
Non-modifiable risk factors for lung cancer are traits that cannot be changed. They include:
Family history of lung cancer: Persons with a background family history of lung cancer have a higher risk factor than one who has no family history of such disease.
Age:Lung cancer is common among the elderly. Most people with this disease are usually older than 65 years. This shows that the risk increases with age. In all, early diagnosis is the key to treating lung cancer.
Lower the risk of getting lung cancer
Though genetics play a part for those who get cancer, there are also things we can do to lower the risk of getting lung cancer. These include lifestyle optimisations, such as:
Not smoking or stopping smoking if you have such a habit,
Testing your home for asbestos, arsenic, and other airborne chemicals detrimental to healthy lungs,
Testing your home for radon,
Avoiding second-hand smoke and carcinogens at work,
Avoiding inhaling polluted air,
Avoiding being exposed to radiation for an extended period, and
Ensuring interval screening for cancer as it will be helpful in early diagnosis.
Final words
Preventing lung cancer requires a multi-faceted approach – it encompasses both lifestyle modifications and awareness of its risk factors. While there are factors that we cannot change, such as our family history and our age, we can always take proactive measures such as adopting a smoke-free environment and avoiding exposure to harmful substances. As early detection can make a huge difference in cancer treatment success rate, regular screenings should also be incorporated into our lives.
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