Lung Cancer Prevention

Since 1991, lung cancer incidence and mortality rates have been slowly decreasing. Many medical professionals attribute this downward trend to public awareness of lung cancer causes and prevention rather than advancements in lung cancer treatment.

What Contributes to Lung Cancer?

• Smoking - Smoking has been repeatedly identified as the primary risk factor for lung cancer. Nearly 90 percent of lung cancer cases are attributed to smoking, and approximately half of all lung cancer patients are smokers at the time of diagnosis. The number of packs smoked each year strongly impacts a cigarette smoker's risk for lung cancer. Subsequent studies have also shown that inhaling secondhand smoke increases the risk of developing the illness.
• Radon Exposure - Radon, an invisible radioactive gas released by decaying uranium, is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Long-term exposure to radon causes up to 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year. Inadequately ventilated areas often harbor the highest radon levels, and the radioactive particles quickly cause cellular damage after inhalation.
• Asbestos Exposure - Asbestos is a known carcinogen that has been found to play a role in the development of lung cancer. As many as 8,500 new cases of lung cancer each year in the United States are attributed to asbestos exposure. When smokers are exposed to asbestos, the synergistic effect of the carcinogens drastically increases the individual's risk of lung cancer.
• Family history - The most common risk factor among lung cancer patients who never smoked is a documented family history of kidney and bladder cancer. A personal history of other lung diseases has also been shown to increase the risk of developing lung cancer.

How to Reduce Your Risk of Lung Cancer

Current smokers can drastically reduce their risk of lung cancer by quitting the habit. Smoking cessation can also increase the efficacy of treatment and improve prognosis for smokers who already have lung cancer. Although up to 83 percent of lung cancer patients do not quit smoking after they are diagnosed, the mortality rate is doubled for patients who continue to smoke. For current non-smokers and ex-smokers, abstaining from cigarettes continues to provide protection against developing lung cancer.

If radon testing in a home reveals more than 4 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L), reductive action should be taken to lower the residents' risk of developing lung cancer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that one out of 15 homes in the United States holds unsafe levels of radon and that addressing this excess could prevent as many as 5,000 lung cancer deaths each year. While radon reduction programs vary by the size and layout of a home, the average cost for the procedure is $1,200.

Asbestos-related lung cancer can only be prevented by limiting your exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is only dangerous if the fibers have been released into the air. Therefore, any home remodeling or construction activities that may disturb asbestos should only be performed by licensed professionals. Additionally, homeowners may hire abatement companies to find and remove asbestos-containing materials that pose a risk for inhalation.

Dietary and Medical Prevention

Nutrition studies have found that the diets of lung cancer patients were often low in B-Carotene and lycopene. Flavonoids and isothiocyanates were also less frequently consumed by people who developed lung cancer. These micronutrients have been found to decrease the incidence of lung cancer in animal testing models. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains can deliver the essential vitamins and nutrients that help fight cancer. Remaining physically active also lowers a person's lung cancer risk.

Medical intervention known as chemoprevention is an alternative prevention method that addresses suspicious lesions before they become malignant. Various chemopreventive agents have been identified to block DNA damage, suppress cancerous growths or inhibit carcinogenesis. Retinoids and EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors) are two major classes of chemopreventive substances that may be delivered orally, intranasally or via intramuscular injections.

Doctors familiar with asbestos-related lung cancer can help you understand preventative options. If you would like help making an appointment with a qualified doctor in your area, please contact the Mesothelioma Center's Doctor Match Program.