- Lung cancer accounts for around 19% of all cancers and 27% of cancer deaths.
- The incidence is increasing in women (due to the increase in women smokers).
- The major risk factor for lung cancer is cigarette smoking.
- Other risk factors:
o Passive smoking - being near smokers and inhaling the smoke which is being exhaled by smokers increases the risk to twice that of non-smokers.
o Heavy metal exposure - exposure / working with heavy metals e.g. nickel, chromium, vinyl chloride, arsenic for prolonged periods of time.
o Asbestos exposure - increases the risk of non-smokers by 5 fold & 55 times greater in smokers.
o Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (check out my writings on COPD)
o Industrial carcinogens - products from factories that cause cancer e.g. chloromethyl ether.
o Lung scars - e.g. post-tuberculosis infection
o Air pollution - prolonged exposure
o Hereditary - genetic factors
No comments:
Post a Comment