Asbestos and Other Chemicals
Exposure to asbestos and/or other substances known to cause cancer -- including arsenic, chromium and nickel, can increase your risk of developing lung cancer. This risk increases substantially if you’re a smoker.
Family History of Lung Cancer
If you have a parent, sibling or child who has developed lung cancer, then you have an increased risk of developing the disease yourself.
Spot the Signs
One of the insidious things about lung cancer is that it doesn’t typically cause signs and symptoms in its earliest stages. Most lung cancers don’t start exhibiting signs and symptoms until the cancer has spread too far to be cured. However, getting medical help at the onset of symptoms can increase your odds of being diagnosed with an earlier stage of lung cancer. For example, the Mayo Clinic reports that 52 percent of patients diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer are still alive after 5 years. That figure drops to 4 percent in patients diagnosed with late-stage lung cancer. As the disease advances, signs and symptoms may include:
A New Cough That Doesn’t Go Away: If you have a cough that lingers for weeks, won’t go away or is getting progressively worse, seek medical attention. If you have an infection like bronchitis that won’t go away or has been getting worse, you also should seek help.
Changes in a Chronic Cough or “Smoker’s Cough”: If you have smoker’s cough that changes in frequency or intensity, it’s a sign that something is awry.
Coughing up Even a Small Amount of Blood: Coughing up a small amount of blood may seem like something that can be dismissed or brushed aside. But if you have other risk factors for lung cancer, you’ll want to speak with your doctor about coughing up even the smallest amount of blood.
Shortness of Breath: Difficulty catching your breath or taking deep breaths is a sign that you’re having a problem with your lungs. See your doctor ASAP.
Chest Pain: Chest pain, especially chest pain made worse by breathing, coughing or laughing, is a sign that there’s trouble in your lungs.