Lung cancer
Find out about the risk factors, signs and symptoms of lung cancer – and how screening and early assessment can support earlier diagnosis.
Overview
How common is lung cancer?
There are over 220,000 new cases of lung cancer diagnosed in the United States each year. This means around 1 in every 17 men, and 1 in every 18 women will be diagnosed during their lifetime. Lung cancer is more common in people 65 or older.
Common risk factors
Smoking
Smoking is the most important risk factor for lung cancer. Around 80-90% of lung cancers are linked to cigarette smoking. People who smoke are much more likely to develop lung cancer (15-30 times) than those who have never smoked. Your risk increases with the number of years and the amount you smoke.
Lifestyle factors
Other than smoking, there are no other lifestyle factors that have been shown to strongly influence lung cancer risk and avoiding tobacco exposure remains the most effective way to reduce your risk.
Family History
Having a close family history (parent/sibling/child) of lung cancer can increase your risk two-fold. Lung cancer is more common in White than in Black or Asian people.
Environmental factors
Lung cancer can also be influenced by environmental exposures. Radon gas, a naturally occurring radioactive gas, is the second most common cause of lung cancer in the United States. Other risk factors include long-term exposure to air pollution and second-hand smoke, as well as certain workplace chemicals such as arsenic, diesel exhaust, and nickel.
Race/Ethnicity
Lung cancer affects people from all racial and ethnic backgrounds. Differences in risk are influenced by a combination of smoking patterns, environmental exposures, genetic factors and access to healthcare.
In the United States, Black men have a higher risk of developing lung cancer even if they smoke fewer cigarettes. White men and women have a high overall incidence, although rates are declining as smoking rates fall. American Indian and Alaska Native populations also experience higher rates of lung cancer, reflecting higher rates of smoking in some regions.
Hispanic/Latino and Asian American populations have a lower incidence of lung cancer. However, lung cancer can still occur in people who have never smoked. In particular, Asian American women who have never smoked are disproportionately diagnosed with lung cancer due to mutations in the EGFR gene.
These differences highlight the importance of not assuming lung cancer risk is determined by smoking alone, and of seeking medical advice if symptoms arise, regardless of background or smoking history.
Symptoms to look out for
Lung cancer does not always cause symptoms in its early stages. When symptoms do appear, they can often be subtle at first and may be mistaken for other common respiratory conditions.
Any symptoms will vary depending on how far advanced the cancer is and its position within the chest.
The main symptoms include:
Be Lung Aware
Are you showing any signs of these common symptoms of suspected x cancer?
Appetite loss
Fatigue
Weight loss
A persistent cough or a change in a long-standing cough
Breathlessness or shortness 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
Appetite loss
Fatigue
Weight loss
A persistent cough or a change in a long-standing cough
Breathlessness or shortness 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
How to reduce your risk
Stopping smoking
Avoiding industrial carcinogens
If you notice any symptoms that are new, persistent, or getting worse - particularly a cough that does not go away – it’s important to speak to your Primary Care Physician.
Getting tested
Screening
Guidance from the American Cancer Society and the US Prevention Services Task Force recommend that people who smoke or have stopped in the last 15 years, and who have at least a 20 pack-year smoking history, should have yearly low-dose lung CT screening from age 50-80. Before starting screening, you should discuss the potential benefits and harms with your Primary Care Physician.
If you have symptoms
Any potential lung cancer symptoms would normally be investigated by lung CT scan, bronchoscopy and possible biopsy if any abnormality is found.