About 225,000 cases of lung and bronchus cancer are diagnosed every year in the U.S. These are the deadliest cancers; they cause about 160,000 deaths annually.
What puts you at higher risk of lung or bronchus cancer?
- Smoking any tobacco products
- Ongoing or long-term exposure to secondhand smoke from another smoker
- Having a close relative with lung or bronchus cancer
- Having HIV
- Exposure to radon, a radioactive gas that can seep into homes and other buildings
- Exposure to asbestos, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, nickel, soot, and tar
- Living in an area with a high level of air pollution
How can you lower your risk for developing lung or bronchus cancer?
- Don’t smoke (or quit smoking)
- Avoid secondhand smoke
- Install a radon detector to prevent exposure
- Get at least 45 minutes of physical activity/exercise 5 days per week
- Eat lots of fruits and vegetables
How can you help ensure early detection for more effective treatment?
- Mention signs and symptoms to your doctor right away; some common ones include chronic cough, coughing up blood, wheezing, hoarseness, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, chest pain, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, and lack of energy
- Undergo diagnostic tests, which can include chest x-rays and other imaging tests, a mucus examination called sputum cytology, bronchoscopies, biopsies, and others
- There are no regular screening tests for these cancers
Check out these useful resources about lung and bronchus cancer prevention:
