Lung cancer is one of the most common cancer in the world. The high occurrence and death rate of this disease kills about 1.6 million people each year.
How do you get lung cancer?
Tobacco exposure is the biggest risk factor for lung cancer. The chance of getting cancer may increase with the number of cigarettes smoked and the total number of smoking years. People who never smoke may also develop lung cancer when exposed to second-hand smoke frequently, but their chance of developing lung cancer may much less than that of the smoking population.
What can you do to lower lung cancer risk?
The best way to lower lung cancer risk is to quit smoking. You are never too old to quit smoking, and the earlier you quit smoking, the more health benefits you would get. If you tried many times to quit smoking but still failed, you can make yourself feel better by smoking less.
Many methods can be helpful on your road to smoke quitting. You can seek help from medical professionals, and try replacements for tobacco. Those who succeed in quitting smoking might try many times, so do not lose heart and keep on when you fail for the first time.
Other methods are reported to lower the chance of getting lung cancer, but they haven’t been proved with strong evidence yet, including
- Eating a lot of fruit
- Exercising regularly
- Having non-steroidal anti-inflammatory meditations
- Taking inhaled corticosteroid for emphysema and asthma
- Taking statins for lipid lowering
Eating fruit and doing exercise won’t damage your body, but it’s best to your healthcare provider before changing your eating habits and physical activities. Before you take any meditations including the over-the-counter medicines you usually use, always consult your healthcare provider.
Are there any risk factors for lung cancer?
There are some known risk factors that can lead to the risk of lung cancer. Although we do not have strong evidence, it is best to stay away from these risk factors. These include:
- Smoking
- Asbestos, a mineral commonly used in construction
- Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas
- Large amounts of beta-carotene intake
- Vitamin E overdose intake
- Hormone replacement therapy (estrogen, progesterone, etc.)
- Alcohol abuse
It is recommended to consult with a medical professional before you want to start or discontinue meditations or vitamin supplements.
How is lung cancer screening?
While smoking quitting is the most effective method to prevent lung cancer, early screening is the most significant method to achieve a good prognosis, which has been confirmed by recent studies.
A recent study found that lung cancer CT screening can significantly help reduce lung cancer mortality. The American Association for Thoracic Surgery and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend medical institutions to provide lung cancer CT screening for those with a history of smoking. Consult your medical consultant whether you can benefit from this screening.
Lung cancer is common, and you can work in many ways to reduce your risk of getting cancer. Try to find out a scheme about preventing lung cancer with your healthcare provider.