Research has found several risk factors for lung cancer. A "risk factor" is anything that changes risk of getting a disease. Different risk factors change risk by different amounts.

The risk factors for lung cancer include:

 

Smoking and being around others' smoke
! Things around us at home or work (such as radon gas)
! Personal traits (such as having a family history of lung cancer)


Fast Facts

According to the United States Cancer Statistics: 2004 Incidence and Mortality report, lung cancer is:

# The second most common cancer among white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native men, and the third most common cancer among Hispanic men, in the United States


# The second most common cancer among white and American Indian/Alaska Native women, and the third most common cancer among black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Hispanic women, in the United States

In 2004 (the most recent year for which statistics are currently available):

# 108,355 men and 87,897 women were diagnosed with lung cancer
89,575 men and 68,431 women died from lung cancer


Symptoms of Lung Cancer

Different people have different symptoms for lung cancer. Some people don't have any symptoms at all. About 25% of people with lung cancer do not have symptoms from advanced cancer when their lung cancer is found. Lung cancer symptoms may include:

shortness of breath

coughing that doesn't go away

wheezing

coughing up blood

chest pain

fever

weight loss

Other changes that can sometimes occur with lung cancer may include repeated bouts of pneumonia, changes in the shape of the fingertips, and swollen or enlarged lymph nodes (glands) in the upper chest and lower neck.

These symptoms can happen with other illnesses, too. People with symptoms should talk to their doctor, especially if they smoke, but even if they don't. Doctors can help find the cause.