How many non smokers get lung cancer

Lung Cancer. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Minus Related Pages. More Information. Stay Informed twitter govd. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. There are most likely many causes that contribute to the increase in lung cancer cases among never-smokers. Here are some possible reasons:. Never-smokers can help lower their risk of lung cancer by avoiding secondhand smoke and exposure to radon or other harmful pollutants.

Symptoms to look out for include:. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Health Topics. But while they may be less likely to spread or metastasize to other parts of the body, they still can recur, even after successful surgery. There may not be a single cause behind a particular case of lung cancer in a nonsmoker—rather, there is often a combination of factors contributing to the disease, says Dr.

Numerous studies have shown that such somatic mutations or abnormalities can play a key role in the development of lung cancer, especially in nonsmokers. Beyond that, the American Cancer Society lists the following environmental risk factors that may contribute to a diagnosis of lung cancer in a nonsmoker:.

Radon gas : Exposure to radon gas is considered to be one of the causes of lung cancer in nonsmokers, accounting for about 21, lung cancer deaths each year. It has been found in concentrated amounts inside some homes that were built on soil that contains natural uranium deposits.

The Environmental Protection Agency publishes a guide on how to test for radon gas in your home. Cancer-causing agents at work : This is a special concern for those with prolonged and repeated exposure to such carcinogens as asbestos, heavy metals, and diesel exhaust. Air pollution : While scientists link indoor and outdoor air pollution to lung cancer, the risk of lung cancer from air pollution is believed to be low in the United States, where air quality is regulated, compared to many other countries in which it is not.

Most nonsmokers have no early signs of lung cancer, which means it is often not diagnosed until it has spread—but some do have symptoms in the early stages. These are similar to the symptoms in smokers and may include the following:. When nonsmoker lung cancer is diagnosed early, surgeons can usually treat it by removing the affected tissue or tumor. Boffa says. The surgeon will remove not only the abnormal nodule, but also some of the normal tissue around it, along with the lymph nodes, which can carry cancer to other parts of the body.

Test your home for radon. Radon testing is incredibly important, especially with the high levels of radon that we see in Oregon, and particularly in the Portland metropolitan area, because of our geological composition. The EPA estimates that one of every 15 homes in the U. In Multnomah County, it's closer to one in three; 32 percent of homes in Multnomah County, as well as 19 percent of homes in Clackamas County and 13 percent of homes in Washington County, have unsafe radon levels.

Check your county's statistics here. Testing is easy, and now is a good time to do it, before warmer weather has you opening windows and increasing the air circulation in your house. Inexpensive test kits are available at most home improvement stores. If your result comes back showing higher levels of radon, there are several companies in the Portland area that install fairly simple removal systems.

And spread the word among your friends and family members. Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke. The biggest impact we can make on reducing lung cancer is by eliminating tobacco use and tobacco exposure.

Make your home a no-smoking zone, and support indoor clean air acts and anti-smoking legislation. If there is a smoker in your household, there is no better motivator to quit than the health of your children. Take advantage of every resource to help a smoker quit for good.

Make sure your kids don't become smokers.