01 Oct 15 Facts and 5 Myths about Lung Cancer

Being told you have a high risk of lung cancer or being diagnosed with it can leave you with a lot of questions. There’s a great deal of information — and misinformation — out there, and it can be hard to make sense of it all.

Below are 15 facts and 5 myths about lung cancer: its causes, survival rates, symptoms, and more. Some of these facts might be things you already know, but some might be surprising.

1

Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer throughout the world

In 2015, there were almost 1.7 million deaths worldwide from lung cancer.

2

In the United States, lung cancer is the second-most common type of cancer

Prostate cancer is more common for men, while breast cancer is more common for women.

3

Early-stage lung cancer might not cause any symptoms

This means that lung cancer is often only caught in later stages.

4

A chronic cough is the most common symptom of early lung cancer

This cough will probably get worse over time.

5

Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer

Approximately 80 percent of lung cancer deaths result from smoking.

6

Smokers should get yearly screenings

If you’re between 55 and 80 years old, smoked for at least 30 years, and either smoke now or quit less than 15 years ago, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that you get yearly screenings for lung cancer. The main type of screening used is a low-dose CT scan.

7

Secondhand smoke is serious

Even if you don’t smoke, being exposed to secondhand smoke can raise your risk of lung cancer. Secondhand smoke causes around 7,000 lung cancer deaths per year.

8

Quitting smoking reduces your risk

Even if you’ve smoked for a long time, quitting now can significantly reduce your risk of getting lung cancer.

9

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer

Radon is a naturally occurring gas. Breathing it in exposes your lungs to small amounts of radiation. Radon can build up in your home, so radon testing is important.

10

African-American men are at a greater risk

African-American men are about 20 percent more likely than caucasian men to get lung cancer. However, the rate in African-American women is 10 percent lower than in caucasian women.

11

Genetic tesks can help

Doctors can do genetic tests on your tumor, which tells them the specific ways the DNA in the tumor has mutated, or changed. This can help find a more targeted therapy.

12

There are four types of surgery for lung cancer

In some cases, only the tumor and a small part of the tissue around it is removed. In others, one of the five lobes of the lung is removed. If the tumor is close to the center of the chest, you might need an entire lung removed.

13

There are three types of lung cancer

They are: non-small cell, small cell, and lung carcinoid tumors. Non-small cell is the most common kind, accounting for about 85 percent of lung cancer.

14

Lung cancer causes more cancer deaths than any other type of cancer

It causes more deaths per year than colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. This is true for both men and women.

15

Age and sex can both affect survival rates

In general, younger people and women have better survival rates.

Myths about lung cancer

1

You can’t get lung cancer if you don’t smoke

Smoking causes most cases of lung cancer. However, exposure to radon, asbestos, other hazardous chemicals, and air pollution as well as secondhand smoke can also cause lung cancer. A family history of lung cancer can also increase your risk. In some cases of lung cancer, there are no known risk factors.

2

Once you’re a smoker, you can’t lower your risk of lung cancer

Even if you’ve smoked for a long time, quitting smoking can decrease your risk of lung cancer. Your lungs might have some permanent damage, but quitting will keep them from becoming even more damaged.

Even if you’ve already been diagnosed with lung cancer, quitting smoking can help you respond better to treatment. Plus, quitting smoking is good for your health in a lot of ways. But if you smoked for a long time, you should get screened, even if you quit.

3

Lung cancer is always deadly

Because lung cancer is often found in later stages, after it has already spread, it has a low five-year survival rate. But cancer in early stages is not only treatable, it’s even curable. And if your cancer isn’t curable, treatment can help extend your life and lessen your symptoms.

If you have any risk factors, talk to your doctor about screenings. These can help catch lung cancer earlier. You should also see your doctor if you have a cough that won’t go away and gets worse over time.

4

Exposing lung cancer to air or cutting it during surgery will cause it to spread

Lung cancer does often spread to other parts of the lung, the lymph nodes near the lung, and to other organs. However, surgery does not cause any type of cancer to spread. Instead, cancer spreads because the cells in tumors grow and multiply without being stopped by the body.

Surgery can actually cure lung cancer in its early stages, when it’s localized to the lungs or a small amount of nearby lymph nodes.

5

Only older adults get lung cancer

Lung cancer is much more common in people over 60 years old. However, that doesn’t mean that people under 60 never get it. If you’re currently 30 years old, for example, you have 0.16 percent chance of getting lung cancer over the next 20 years.

The takeaway

When you’re diagnosed with lung cancer, there’s a lot to learn and you have a lot of choices to make about your care. Work with your doctor to figure out what’s best for you. They’ll help you find the best course of treatment and can answer any other questions you might have. And if you’re a heavy smoker or have other risk factors for lung cancer, talk to your doctor about screenings and other preventive measures, including quitting smoking.