Lung cancer
Around 72% of lung cancer deaths in the UK are caused by tobacco smoking. Overall tobacco smoking is estimated to be responsible for more than 21% of cancer deaths in the UK.
Overview
Around 72% of lung cancer deaths in the UK are caused by tobacco smoking. Overall tobacco smoking is estimated to be responsible for more than 21% of cancer deaths in the UK.
Risks
Smoking is not the only cause and the key lung cancer risks include:
Family history
A family history of lung cancer in a first-degree relative (i.e. parent/sibling/child) is associated with a two-fold increased risk, independent of smoking. Lung cancer is more common in White than in Black or Asian people.
Lifestyle factors
There are no lifestyle factors that are strongly associated with lung cancer other than smoking. However, you can help reduce your overall cancer risk by maintaining a healthy weight, reducing your alcohol intake below recommended Government guidance, stopping smoking and undertaking regular exercise.
Environmental factors
Radon gas, a naturally occurring radioactive gas and other types of ionising radiation. Also, several industrial carcinogens, for example, arsenic and polycyclic hydrocarbons as well as some occupations including non-ferrous metal production and painting. Air pollution is also a factor.
Symptoms
Sadly the majority of people have no symptoms in the early stages of lung cancer. Any symptoms will vary depending on how far advanced the cancer is and its position within the chest.
The main symptoms include:
Appetite loss
Fatigue
Weight loss
A persistent cough or a change in a long-standing cough
Breathlessness or shortness of breath
Coughing up blood (phlegm with blood in it)
Aches or pains when breathing or coughing
Persistent chest infections that don’t respond to medical treatment
Reducing risk
Changes to your lifestyle can significantly reduce your risk of lung cancer including:
- Stopping smoking - find out more about starting a smoking cessation programme
Getting tested
As with all cancers, survival rates for lung cancer depend on the stage at which the disease is detected, as well as other general factors such as health and gender.
Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common type of lung cancer with approximately 88% of all cases having this type.
Small cell lung cancer is fast-growing and the most aggressive type of lung cancer that occurs more frequently in men than women. It accounts for approximately 12% of all lung cancers and, in the majority of cases, is the result of smoking. It is quite rare to see patients with small-cell lung cancer who have never smoked. The most common forms of small cell lung cancer treatments are chemotherapy and radiotherapy and, if the disease is in the early stages, there is a potential for a cure.
Adenocarcinoma is a non-small cell lung cancer that is more commonly found in women and non-smokers, and it is the most common type of lung cancer for people under 45. Unfortunately, the incidence of adenocarcinoma of the lung is on the increase in the UK and it is now one of the most common types of lung cancer.
Adenocarcinoma accounts for approximately 50% of all non-small cell lung cancers and begins in the outer sections of the lung (although it can occur as central lesions) which can make it difficult to detect in the early stages of the disease. It develops from lung cells that produce mucus and, unlike many other types of lung cancer, it is more likely to remain in one area giving better opportunities for treatment.
Early detection is vital in the treatment options and survival rates of people with lung cancer.