What causes Lung Cancer?

Imagine receiving a jolt to life when a person is diagnosed with lung cancer. It’s a moment that can shake anyone’s world, leaving the person grappling with queries, fears, and uncertainty about the future. But how did this happen? What did I do wrong? Is it hereditary? Questions galore! Well, let’s understand the mystery of what causes lung cancer that claims many lives every year.

1. Smoking

About 90% of lung cancer cases are due to smoking cigarettes. You don’t have to be a chain smoker; even one cigarette a day puts you at risk. Cigarettes contain about 250 harmful chemicals, of which 65 chemicals cause cancer. If you quit smoking, the risk comes down, and if you have already got cancer, the fatality due to the disease reduces by 30-40%. It’s not just smokers who get affected but also those who inhale cigarette smoke, referred as second-hand smoking. Passive smokers or non-smokers are at 20%-30% higher risk for breathing second-hand smoke.

2. Marijuana

Although more research is required to know if marijuana causes lung cancer, it contains the same toxins as tobacco smoke, which raises the risk of cancer. Those who use marijuana also smoke, so it’s difficult to say if marijuana alone causes lung cancer.

3. Vapes

Also known as e-cigarettes/electronic cigarettes, vapes contain chemicals, nicotine, and other toxic substances which can damage your lungs. When you vape, you inhale chemicals known to cause cancer, but experts are still unsure if it causes lung cancer. Vaping may make you addicted to nicotine, or you may start smoking cigarettes in future.

4. Radon

Exposure to radon is counted as the second leading cause of lung carcinoma after cigarettes. Radon is a colourless, odourless radioactive gas which occurs naturally in soil and rocks. This gas enters homes, schools, and other buildings through small cracks and gaps in the foundation, and inhaling radon puts you at risk of lung cancer.

5. Asbestos

Asbestos breaks down into tiny fibres which get stuck in the lungs of those who work with it. Over time, asbestos builds up in the lungs, making it difficult for the person to breathe, eventually causing lung cancer.

6. Genes

Around 8% of lung cancers are genetic. So, if someone in your family is affected by lung cancer you are at a higher risk.

7. Particle Pollution

A blend of tiny solid and liquid particles like metals, chemicals, dust, and acids present in the air is called particle pollution. The particles are so tiny that they can get trapped in the lungs; this increases the risk of lung cancer. Staying indoors when the air is polluted can reduce the risk.