Now is The Time to Learn if You're at Risk for Lung Cancer

About every two minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with lung cancer. Every day, the disease claims the lives of more than 350 individuals. While the disease remains the leading cause of cancer deaths, the survival rate has increased over the past five years in large part to advances in lung cancer screening.

Unfortunately, far too many people do not take advantage of screenings. The reasons why range from completely understandable results-related anxiety, to a lack of breathing-related symptoms that might prompt the imaging. However, lung cancer can go undiagnosed for a long time as symptoms often do not appear until the cancer has spread.

Did you know?

The rates of lung cancer in Vermont, Massachusetts and New York are all in line with the national average, but the five-year survival rates are among the best in the nation.

SOURCE: The American Lung Association

Factors that can put you at greater risk of lung cancer—and put you in a position to potentially benefit the most from a lung cancer screening—include:

Smoking

Smoking causes about 90 percent of lung cancers, making it the number one direct cause of lung cancer. If you are over 55 and have smoked tobacco products in the past, you may be eligible for lung cancer screening. Patients who have not smoked but were regularly exposed to secondhand smoke are also at increased risk of lung cancer and other illnesses.

Radon

Radon exposure is the second-leading cause of lung cancer. A colorless, naturally occurring radioactive gas in soil, radon can enter homes and buildings through gaps and cracks in foundations. Radon is found in nearly one in 15 homes in the U.S.

Hazardous Chemicals and Particle Pollution

Exposure to exhaust, smoke, chemicals and materials including asbestos, uranium, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, nickel and some petroleum products also increase lung cancer risk. If your job includes these types of exposures, be sure to mention it to your doctor.

History of Lung Cancer

A family history of lung cancer may also increase the risk of developing the disease. The risk is notably higher if a close relative (such as a parent or sibling) had lung cancer. Lung cancer survivors are also at increased risk of developing another lung cancer. It’s important to mention any personal or family history of lung cancer to your doctor.

And now for the good news:

Thanks to the advances in screening technology, it’s easier than ever to detect cancers early when they are more likely to be curable. In fact, if lung cancer is caught before it spreads, the likelihood of surviving 5 years or more improves to 63 percent.*

To determine your eligibility for a low-dose CT lung cancer-screening test that could help save your life, please contact your doctor or click here for a quiz from the American Lung Association.

 *Based on early-stage lung cancer stats (stage 1 vs. stage 4)

James Kalmuk, MD, is a medical oncologist at the Dartmouth Cancer Center at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center.