Johns Hopkins Health Alert
Lung Cancer: When Nonsmokers Are Affected
Lung cancer was rare before the beginning of the 20th century, but it is now the most common cause of death from cancer among both men and women in the United States. Death rates are high because lung cancer is difficult to treat and is usually not detected until it has already spread.
Most cases of lung cancer occur in people between the ages of 45 and 75 who have been exposed to cigarette smoke or other pollutants for many years. Tragically, only about 15 percent of people with lung cancer are alive five years after diagnosis.
Smoking causes an estimated 87 to 90 percent of lung cancer cases. Smokers who quit (even after smoking for years) greatly reduce their risk of lung cancer. However, the risk remains. A powerful reminder of this was the death in 2005 of ABC Television’s news anchor Peter Jennings, a former smoker, from lung cancer. But even nonsmokers can die of lung cancer, as did Dana Reeve, the wife of actor Christopher Reeve.
Exposure to toxic substances like radon and asbestos also can lead to lung cancer. Radon is estimated to be the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall.
- Radon. Radon is a colorless, odorless gas formed naturally during the decay of uranium found in rocks and soil. Radon in the soil can pollute the air of a home by entering through cracks or other openings, usually in the basement. The incidence of lung cancer caused by radon is highest among miners, who are often exposed to high levels. Most people who die of radon-associated cancer, according to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, were also smokers.
- Asbestos. Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that was used in building materials until the 1980s. Chronic exposure to asbestos can cause both lung cancer and mesothelioma -- a cancer involving the pleura (the membranes that cover the lungs). The combination of asbestos exposure and cigarette smoking is especially dangerous.
- Air pollution. Air pollution, including traffic fumes and smokestack emissions, may also contribute to lung cancer.
Posted in Lung Disorders on January 27, 2012
Medical Disclaimer: This information is not intended to substitute for the advice of a physician. Click here for additional information: Johns Hopkins Health Alerts Disclaimer
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