How To Prevent Lung Cancer

Making healthy lifestyle changes and reducing exposure to certain chemicals are steps to take to prevent lung cancer. This type of cancer occurs when malignant (cancerous) cells form in the tissues of the lungs.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for both women and men in the United States. Here's more about lung cancer prevention, including risk factors and how to reduce risks.

Who Is Most at Risk?

Smoking is the leading risk factor for lung cancer. It accounts for 90% of cases in men and 80% of cases in women. Research has shown that people who smoke are 20 times more likely to get lung cancer than those who don't.

Your lung cancer risk changes based on the number of cigarettes you smoke per day and the number of years you have been smoking. The more you smoke, the higher your risk of lung cancer in general. Smoking low-tar or low-nicotine cigarettes does not reduce the risk of lung cancer. 

Smoking is not the only risk factor for lung cancer. Other factors include:

• Beta carotene supplementation: People who smoke one or more packs of cigarettes per day are more likely to develop lung cancer if they also take a beta carotene supplement. This is a type of antioxidant that promotes vitamin A. The risk is even higher if people who smoke and take the supplement also consume at least one alcoholic drink per day. 
• Exposure to toxins: Being exposed to harmful chemicals like radon and asbestos can raise your lung cancer risk. 
• Family history: People with a family history of lung cancer are twice as likely to develop the condition themselves. Research is ongoing about certain genes that may be tied to lung cancer, but experts know that smoking tends to run in families. 
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status: People living with HIV are twice as likely to develop lung cancer than those without. 
• Secondhand smoke: Secondhand smoke (inhaling someone else's cigarette smoke) can also contain toxic chemicals that cause lung cancer.
  

How To Reduce Risk 

The most important step you can take to lower your lung cancer risk is to stop smoking. Lung cancer screening doesn't provide risk reduction. Screening helps detect cancer at an earlier stage, and therefore, the chance of cure with treatment is higher.

Quit Smoking

The best way to prevent smoking is not to smoke at all. Research has shown that people who quit smoking for more than 15 years are 80% to 90% less likely to develop lung cancer than those who continue to smoke.

You can still significantly reduce your risk of lung cancer even if you do have a history of smoking. The lung tissue that has become damaged is gradually able to start repairing itself when you stop smoking. Quitting also lowers the chance that cancer cells begin to form in lung tissue.

Quitting smoking is not easy, so it's OK if you are finding it challenging. The good news is that options like nicotine replacement products, antidepressant therapy, and counseling can help you quit.

Get Screened for Lung Cancer 

Regular lung cancer screenings are not for everyone. Screenings may be helpful for those with a long history of smoking tobacco or a family history of lung cancer. The goal of lung cancer screening is to detect the disease in its earlier stages when the cancer is easier to treat.

Annual lung cancer screenings are recommended for adults aged 50–80 with a 20-pack-year smoking history. It may be a good idea to visit a healthcare provider for a lung cancer screening if you currently smoke or quit less than 15 years ago.

A healthcare provider can use a screening test for lung cancer called a low-dose computed tomography (LDCT). LDCT screening has been shown to reduce the risk of death from lung cancer by 20% and the overall risk of death by 7%. It's important to note that LDCT is not a perfect tool for lung cancer screening.

Research has shown that almost 25% of people who had yearly low-dose CT screenings for three years had inaccurate or abnormal test results. More than 95% of these abnormal results were considered "false positives." This means the screening results incorrectly showed that people had lung cancer when they didn't.

This shouldn't stop you from getting a lung cancer screening if it's helpful. Lung cancer screenings can still be a good way to inform you and a healthcare provider about any potential signs of lung cancer. 

Reduce Workplace Exposures

Exposure to certain chemicals can increase your lung cancer risk. Chemical exposure used to be common in workplaces some decades ago. Workplace exposure to cancer-causing agents and secondhand smoke is lower, thanks to labor laws and environmental policies.

It's still a good idea to know which chemicals can increase your lung cancer. The following substances may raise your cancer risk:

• Asbestos
• Arsenic
• Beryllium
• Cadmium
• Chromium
• Nickel
• Tar and soot

Exposure to radiation can sometimes increase your lung cancer risk. Radiation exposure may come from radiation or chemotherapy therapy for cancer treatment, imaging tests like CT scans, or electrical power lines. 

Avoid Radon Exposure at Home 

Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that is dangerous to your health. The gas comes from the breakdown of uranium in soil and rocks. Radon exposure can happen when the substance seeps up through the ground and into the air and water supply.

You might find radon in your home if it escapes from the ground and enters the cracks in the floor, walls, or foundation. Use a home test kit to check the radon levels in your home to protect yourself from radon exposure. It's important to contact a radon mitigation professional for treatment if levels are too high.

Discuss With Your Healthcare Provider

It's a good idea to talk to a healthcare provider about your lung cancer concerns and risks if you have a history of smoking or a family history of the disease. Discussing these issues can reduce your risk of developing lung cancer. 

The healthcare provider can help you understand steps you can take to prevent lung cancer and make any major lifestyle or medical changes. You may also consider asking about lung cancer screening or any other testing measures a healthcare provider recommends.  

A Quick Review 

You can't always prevent lung cancer, but there are several changes you can make to reduce your risk. The most important preventative method for lung cancer is to stop smoking.

Other ways to prevent lung cancer include avoiding exposure to secondhand smoke and harmful chemicals like asbestos at work or radon at home. Talk to a healthcare provider about steps you can take to lower your risk and ask if a lung cancer screening or testing is right for you.