
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States — for both men and women. But what causes lung cancer? World Lung Cancer Day is Aug. 1. While smoking is the primary contributing factor, many other environmental and lifestyle causes can lead to lung cancer.
Smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer, both for those who smoke and those continually exposed to second-hand smoke. However, other factors can lead to lung cancer, including:
There are different types of lung cancer, but in most cases, the disease will not cause symptoms until they have spread too far to be cured. Some of the symptoms of lung cancer include the following. See a doctor if you have one or more of these symptoms and feel concerned:
Longtime smokers might consider getting a periodic lung cancer screening to detect problems as early as possible. Talk to your Generations Family doctor each year about your risk for lung and other cancers.