Smoking, or exposure to tobacco in any form, is the major risk factor for lung cancer. Nonsmokers who breathe the smoke of others, often called secondhand smoke, are also at increased risk for lung cancer. Stopping exposure to tobacco smoke at any age lowers the risk of lung cancer.
Risk factors for lung cancer besides smoking include exposure to the following:
- Radon
An odorless radioactive gas produced naturally in rocks and soil, radon is found in homes and mines in some areas. Exposure to high indoor radon levels can cause damage to the lungs, which may lead to cancer.
- Asbestos
If inhaled, asbestos particles can cause lung damage that may lead to lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Smoking Cessation
Not everyone who gets lung cancer has a history of smoking. If you do smoke, however, you can reduce your risk for lung cancer — and the risk of those around you — by stopping now. Memorial Sloan-Kettering has smoking cessation programs for those who have cancer, as well as for those who want to quit for cancer prevention and to improve their overall health.
