It’s the leading cancer killer in the United States, claiming more lives than the next three most common cancers combined (colon, breast and pancreatic). It’s lung cancer, and according to the American Lung Association, it will claim an estimated 158,040 Americans in 2015, about 27 percent of all cancer deaths. Despite awareness campaigns for lung cancer risk factors -- most notably smoking -- the number of deaths due to lung cancer has continued to increase, about 3.5 percent between 1999 and 2012. Key to snuffing out this cancer killer is knowing and minimizing risk factors and understanding the symptoms so that you can get early treatment for the disease.

Lung Cancer Risks

Lung cancer risk factors vary greatly, from controllable risks like quitting smoking to family history. Here are some of the most common risk factors associated with lung cancer:

Smoking

Your risk of lung cancer increases with the number of cigarettes you smoke daily and the number of years you’ve been a smoker. Quitting at any age can lower your risk of developing this deadly cancer significantly. There is a reason that cigarettes are called “coffin nails.”

Exposure to Secondhand Smoke

Non-smokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk of developing lung cancer. If you are a smoker, save your loved ones by not smoking indoors and/or around them. If you love a smoker, help him or her lower their risks (and yours) by encouraging quitting.

Exposure to Radon Gas

Radon, an odorless, colorless gas, is produced by the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water that eventually makes its way into the air we breathe. Radon testing kits, which can be purchased at most home improvement stores, can help determine whether or not the levels of radon in our homes, office buildings and schools are safe.