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Learn MoreAlthough it’s most often associated with smoking—and rightly so, as that’s a leading cause—lung cancer can also be caused by other factors we may be unaware of. Learning the risks, and how to reduce and even avoid them, is a key focus of Lung Cancer Awareness Month every November.
Risk factors for lung cancer
Those are some sobering figures. So how can lung cancer be avoided, or how can someone know if he or she is at heightened risk? Here are some tips for awareness:
Age is a factor: About two out of three lung cancers are diagnosed in those over age 65, and the average age at diagnosis is 71.
Family history plays a role: Genetics may increase the possibility of lung cancer. If someone has an immediate family member who has or has had lung cancer—and who does not or did not smoke—he or she may be more prone to developing the disease.
Smoking: Smoking is considered the leading cause of lung cancer. Secondhand smoke may significantly increase this risk, so if someone around you is smoking, you’re in danger. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that two out of five adult non-smokers and half of children exposed to secondhand smoke die from lung cancer. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) reports that tobacco smoking causes about nine in 10 cases of lung cancer in men and eight in 10 in women. (Ready to quit? November’s also the Great American Smokeout – learn more from our previous blog entry.)
Asbestos exposure: Carcinogenic chemicals in the workplace can increase risk, especially if paired with smoking.
Radon exposure: Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that is found in some houses and is a leading cause of lung cancer.
Vaping and lung cancer
Lung-related illnesses are very much in the news now with the onset of people around the country falling ill possibly due to vaping. State and federal health officials are working to discover what the connection might be, and those who do vape are encouraged to stop while these investigations continue.
Early illness symptoms include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, coughing, and fever, followed by shortness of breath that can become so extreme it can prompt an emergency room visit or require hospitalization.
Some patients need supplementary oxygen, including a ventilator.
As of early September, there were several hundred people ill, and a rising number of deaths due to the illness. Because no specific type of liquid or device had been identified, cessation across the board has been recommended.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has noted a heighted risk for people who vape THC, the psychoactive chemical in marijuana. According to the FDA, a significant subset of samples of vaping fluid used by sick patients included THC and also contained a chemical called vitamin E acetate.
Symptoms of lung cancer
One reason lung cancer is so difficult to treat is that it tends not to show symptoms in the early stages. Once it has become more advanced, these are some signs:
As with any other health concern, the potential for lung cancer should be discussed with your physician. What better time than Lung Cancer Awareness Month to schedule a physical, where this and any other health concerns you may have can be reviewed? If you’re a smoker, there’s no better time to quit alongside thousands of others who are doing the same.
HealthStream’s learning management system and healthcare training solutions support medical training initiatives and allow for the best patient care.
View All Learning & PerformanceHealthStream offers performance learning management solutions to help develop your healthcare staff into leaders and reduce turnover.
View All ProductsHealthStream works with healthcare organizations to create engaging and high-quality training videos for your staff and management.
View All ProductsImprove care quality and save money by making informed decisions about your healthcare facility and staff with HealthStream's reporting analytics solution.
View All ProductsHealthStream's proven methods for the improvement and overall engagement of your healthcare staff foster a positive workplace and increase retention rates.
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View All ProductsOur competency development solutions personalize learning for clinicians to bridge the gap between theory and practice for your nurse residents.
View All ProductsEnhance maternal & child nursing care with solutions focused on improving the quality of care for mothers, infants, and children.
View All ProductsAddress staffing orientation challenges to easily achieve and maintain certification with our emergency and acute care training solutions.
View All ProductsAs a premier provider of healthcare education, we are committed to promoting safer, more successful surgical and sedation outcomes for each and every patient.
View All ProductsOur solutions are designed to cater to the needs of patients, healthcare professionals, and organizations dealing with illnesses or chronic conditions.
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