Lung cancer can develop from many parts of a person’s routine, not just the parts that come with an official Surgeon General’s warning. It is not always life choices that lead to this serious disease. Sometimes it develops as a result of not just how you live your life, but where you live your life or how you make your livelihood.
Because lung cancer is often diagnosed in older people and at an advanced stage, it is extremely important to be able to accurately assess your risk throughout your lifetime.
See 9 unique factors that affect your risk for developing lung cancer below.
1.) Being A Smoker
It doesn’t matter if it is a peppermint-flavored vape that you’ve covered in iridescent pink crystals or the habit of toting around a pack of Newport 100s you picked up in college and never let go. Smoking of any kind is a major risk for lung cancer. This activity is the top culprit in raising one’s risk for lung cancer.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that “Cigarette smoking has been linked to about 80 to 90 percent of all cases of lung cancer.”
2.) Spending Time Near Smokers
Think you’re safe because you’re not the one directly puffing down? Think again!
Secondhand smoke is a serious risk factor. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “Since 1964, about 2,500,000 people who did not smoke died from health problems caused by secondhand smoke exposure.” There is no safe amount of exposure to secondhand smoke.
The adverse effects begin taking place immediately.
That means even if you’re sitting up against the grass wall at the hookah spot while the smoke is billowing from the banquets across the room, you’re placing yourself at an additional risk. Pick up your lemon pepper wings and walk away from the poison.
3.) A Family History of Lung Cancer
A 2021 article in Scientific Reports claimed that “Family history has been shown to play a role in predisposing individuals to lung cancer.” The CDC reports “Your risk of lung cancer may be higher if your parents, brothers or sisters, or children have had lung cancer.”
You might have family members who have not shared their experiences with you. Learn your family’s history and be prepared with that information when you are reaching out to your health care providers. The more information that you can obtain, the clearer the picture you can paint.
4.) A COPD Diagnosis
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a direct risk factor for lung cancer. COPD is a major disease that is often thought of as a disease impacting white men, it has become more prevalent in women and Black men.
5.) Advanced Age
Aging is a risk factor for lung cancer and can even play a part in how the disease progresses. The American Cancer Society reports that “Lung cancer mainly occurs in older people” and “Most people diagnosed with lung cancer are 65 or older.”
Lung cancer doesn’t always grow faster in older adults, but it is often more deadly due to a combination of pre-existing conditions and their vulnerability leading to more intense side effects.
6.) A High-Risk Occupation
Certain occupations lend themself to higher risks for lung cancer. Mining, removing asbestos, and applying asphalt are three of the most obvious jobs tied to lung cancer, but there are many others with underlying risks . A 2019 article from Translational Lung Cancer Research identified several occupational determinants of lung cancer.
These included working with ceramics, being a traffic officer, professional painting, and truck driving. Bartending was identified as an occupation that led to higher lung cancer rates as well, due to its association with smoking and increased alcohol usage. Smoking was previously allowed in public spaces such as bars and concerts, increasing the chances of being exposed to second-hand smoke. There are still many spaces where one might encounter second-hand smoke despite rules restricting smoking in many places. People smoke in bars, outdoor venues, and parks. Those with vapes and e-cigarettes spread less smoke around, but the smoke they expose others to is still dangerous.
7.) Maintaining A Poor Diet
Replacing that plastic-wrapped mystery food with some fresh veggies might help you fight off lung cancer risks. Processed foods raise the risk of developing cancer overall. That holds true for lung cancer, as well.
A 2021 article in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition stated that “a diet characterized by high intake of fruits, vegetables, breakfast cereals, and dietary fiber, as well as low intake of red meat and processed meat, was associated with a lower risk of lung cancer.”
8.) Exposure To Radiation Therapy
There is a risk of developing lung cancer after receiving radiation for breast cancer. This risk is serious but slight and should not discourage patients from seeking life-saving therapies, according to The American Association for Thoracic Surgery.
9.) Living In a High-Risk Area
Living in a location flooded with environmental carcinogens raises your risk of lung cancer. There are hot spots associated with certain places. Kentucky, for example, is a hot spot in the United States.
Supported by an educational grant by Merck Incorporated
Resources
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Journal of the COPD Foundation
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
The American Association for Thoracic Surgery