Back to TopWhat Increases Your Risk
Risk factors for
lung cancer include:
- Tobacco use. Smoking and chewing tobacco are
related to developing lung cancer, as well as to cancer of the mouth and
throat. Over 85% of lung cancers are related to smoking.2 More than half of people who are newly diagnosed with lung
cancer are former smokers. Smoking unfiltered, high-tar cigarettes may put you
at a higher risk than smoking filtered or low-tar cigarettes, although this has
not been proven. The risk of developing lung cancer increases:
- The longer you smoke.
- The more
cigarettes you smoke each day.
- Exposure to tobacco smoke, such as living with a
smoker. If you live with a smoker, you have 2 to 3 times the risk of developing
lung cancer compared with a person who lives in a nonsmoking
environment.5 About 25% of nonsmokers who develop lung
cancer probably get it from being exposed to secondhand smoke.3
- Exposure to certain chemicals, such as arsenic,
asbestos, radioactive dust, or
radon.
- Radiation exposure from
occupational, medical, or environmental sources.
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