Lung cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the lungs of the human body. Lungs are the spongy organs in your chest that inhale oxygen when you breathe and exhale carbon dioxide while you breathe out.

Statistics suggest that lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide. People who usually smoke are at higher risk though it can occur to those as well who have never smoked. The risk of lung cancer increases with time and the amount of tobacco or cigarettes you smoke. And if you try to quit smoking at any point in time, even after smoking for several years, you can significantly reduce your chances of developing lung cancer.

Medical professionals believe smoking causes lung cancer by damaging the cells that line the organ i.e. lungs. Cigarette smoke is full of cancer-causing substances (commonly known as carcinogens) which initiate immediate damage in the lung tissue.

At the initial stages, your body may be able to repair this damage but with repeated and prolonged exposure, normal cells start getting damaged. Over time, the damage caused to cells makes them function abnormally which eventually leads to cancer.

There are several factors that may increase the risk of lung cancer, some can be controlled for a time being like quitting smoking and the other’s can’t be controlled, such as family history.

Major risk factors are:

• Exposure to Radon gas
• Smoking
• Exposure to secondhand smoke
• Exposure to radon gases
• Exposure to asbestos and other carcinogens
• Family history of lung cancer

Lung cancer can cause a number of complications such as:

• Shortness of breath: If cancer grows to block the major airways, the person with lung cancer may experience shortness of breath.
• Coughing up blood: Lung cancer can cause bleeding in the airways which may cause the person to cough up blood. Sometimes the bleeding gets severe but there are treatments available to control the bleeding.
• Pain: Lung cancer that is at an advanced stage or started spreading to another area of the body, such as bone can cause severe pain.
• Fluid in the chest: Sometimes fluid starts accumulating in the space that surrounds the affected lung in the chest cavity.

There are no specific factors to prevent lung cancer but one can certainly reduce the risk.

• If you have never smoked, please don’t start and if you do, try quitting it. It will lead you towards a healthy lifestyle.
• If you are often around smokers, ask them to smoke outside or in an open environment. Avoid going to places where people usually smoke.
• Get your home or workplace tested for Radon gas, as it is one of the causes of lung cancer.
• Avoid getting exposed to toxic chemicals or carcinogens.
• Eat a diet full of nutritious fruits and vegetables.
• Try practicing yoga and exercise.

Apollo Cancer Centre, Ahmedabad is one of the best cancer hospitals in India. At Apollo Cancer Centre, we have a specialised team of consultants for treating lung cancers. If you are experiencing any of the signs and symptoms mentioned above, consult with our lung cancer specialist today.