Are You Safe From Lung Cancer?

How common is lung cancer?

It's the leading cause of cancer death among U.S. women. In fact, it kills more women each year than breast, uterine, and ovarian cancers combined.

Who's at risk?

By far, smokers are at the highest risk for lung cancer. People who smoke are 10 to 20 times more likely to get lung cancer.

How common is it for nonsmokers to get lung cancer?

While most cases can be blamed on smoking, around 20 percent of lung cancers in women are attributable to something else. Some experts estimate that two out of three nonsmokers diagnosed with lung cancer are women. "It may be that women are unable to repair their DNA as well as men," says Claudia Henschke, M.D., Ph.D., chief of chest imaging at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. "Or it may be related to hormones, but there isn't enough research to answer that question," she says.

Why do nonsmokers get lung cancer?

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that among nonsmokers, radon is the number-one cause. This colorless, odorless gas, which occurs naturally in soil and rock, can enter homes through cracks in walls, basement floors, and foundations. Asbestos, often used in building materials until the 1970s, can also play a role. Secondhand smoke is another risk factor: A nonsmoker who's married to a smoker has a 30 percent greater risk of developing lung cancer than the spouse of a nonsmoker. Women who have had radiation therapy to the chest are also at higher risk. And as with most diseases, genes are likely a determining factor.

Why is lung cancer so deadly?

Early-stage lung cancer very rarely causes symptoms. "You have an enormous lung capacity, so the cancer usually doesn't cause any difficulty until it spreads," says Norman H. Edelman, M.D., chief medical officer for the American Lung Association. And by then it's basically untreatable. Only 15 percent of lung-cancer patients will survive five years or more after diagnosis. Compare that with the five-year survival rate of 88 percent for breast-cancer patients.

Is there any good news on the horizon?

Currently, there is no universally accepted screening test. But recent clinical trials have found low-dose spiral computed tomography (CT) scanning to be highly successful in detecting early-stage lung cancer. Henschke found that the CT scan, which produces a three-dimensional image of the lungs, can catch more than 80 percent of lung cancers in stage I, when the disease is most treatable.

So should I get the scan?

Henschke recommends that women who have smoked "10-pack years" (a pack a day for 10 years, or two packs a day for five years) and are at least 50 years old have it once a year (even if you quit a long time ago). If you've smoked more than 30-pack years by age 40, you should also consider the scan.

Are there symptoms I should be on the lookout for?

See a doctor if you have a chronic or worsening cough, are coughing up blood, or have shortness of breath or wheezing. You need a thorough examination, a chest X-ray, and perhaps a CT scan.

What can I do to prevent lung cancer?

Don't smoke, and don't let anyone smoke around you. Your best chance of quitting successfully is to set a quit date, then tell family and friends. Ask your doctor about medications that reduce nicotine cravings, and consider counseling (available at 800-QUIT-NOW or smokefree.gov). Also make sure your home is radon-free. Tests are available through the Radon Helpline (800-55-RADON). And if you think your home has asbestos, contact an asbestos professional. (Call your state health department or EPA regional office for a list.)

If I smoke, isn't it too late?

"It's never too late," says Gregory Videtic, M.D., a radiation oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic. Ten years after you stop smoking, your risk of lung cancer is reduced to one-third what it would have been if you hadn't quit.

For more information, or to make a donation to help fund research, visit joanslegacy.org or the American Cancer Society at cancer.org.