Lung cancer doesn't just affect people who smoke. It's the No. 1 cancer killer in the U.S. More people die from lung cancer than colon cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer combined. Doctors encourage those at the highest risk to be screened for lung cancer, although most people never do.
Below is information on lung cancer risk factors, symptoms, how you can get screened, and more.
Lung cancer risk factors
People at the highest risk of lung cancer are those who have heavy tobacco exposure. This includes smoking cigarettes, pipes, or cigars. These factors all increase lung cancer risk for tobacco users:
- The younger a person starts smoking
- How often a person smokes
- How long they smoke
Once a person stops smoking, the risk of lung cancer lowers as the years go by, according to UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center. UC Davis Health hosts classes to help people quit tobacco.
Check out these tips to help you quit tobacco and smoking
However, 20% of lung cancer is not cause by tobacco. That includes environmental and genetic factors. Other risk factors are:
- exposure to second-hand smoke
- radiation therapy treatment to the breast or chest
- exposure to asbestos, radon, chromium, nickel, arsenic, soot, or tar
- living where there is air pollution
- first-degree relative (parent or sibling) with lung cancer
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Symptoms of lung cancer
Symptoms of lung cancer are generic. Often, patients have no symptoms, and the lung cancer is found through screening or an exam for other reasons. Symptoms may include:
- new cough that won't go away
- new wheezing
- coughing up blood
- shortness of breath
- losing weight
- loss of appetite
- tired feeling
- hoarseness
Most patients diagnosed with lung cancer may not have symptoms. For patients who are at highest risk of developing lung cancer, which includes those with heavy tobacco exposure, there are lung cancer screenings called a low-dose CT scan, or low-dose CAT scan.
Explore more about lung cancer
Lung cancer treatments
At UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, lung cancer treatments include:
- Chemotherapy: This treatment is usually given by infusion at the Cancer Center.
- Targeted therapy (precision medicine): This newer generation of medications target the unique molecular and genetic profile of lung cancer cells.
- Immunotherapy: The newest generation of medications boost the patient's immune system to fight cancer.
- Radiation therapy: This is offered in the Radiation Oncology Clinic at the Cancer Center.
- Surgery: Often performed with small incisions and a robot, thoracic surgeons evaluate this based on the stage of cancer and other characteristics of the patient.
- Clinical trials: The Cancer Center has a variety of clinical trials, including in precision medicine, personalized medicine, and immunotherapy to boost the immune system to fight lung cancer.
Learn how to make an appointment with our cancer specialists
Lung cancer screening
There are millions of people, considered at the highest risk of developing lung cancer, who are eligible for lung cancer screening. In California, less than 15% of eligible people get screened. In comparison, over 70% of eligible women get routine breast cancer screenings. If you think you could benefit from lung cancer screening, talk to your health care provider.
See why you should partner with a primary care provider for your health
The updated guidelines of who should be screened for lung cancer include the following groups:
- People between 50-80 years old
- People who have smoked 20 "pack-years" and either still smoke or quit within the past 15 years
(Pack-year means smoking a pack of cigarettes a day for a year of an equivalent amount.)
UC Davis Health patients can schedule an appointment with the Department of Radiology by calling 916-734-0655.
Get more information on other cancers we treat
This blog was medically reviewed by David Cooke, chief of thoracic surgery.
