More than 170,000 cases of lung cancer are diagnosed each year in the US, accounting for approximately 13% of all new cancer diagnoses. And deaths from lung cancer—over 160,000 annually—account for 28% of all cancer deaths. While lung cancer deaths have declined significantly among men since 1991, those for Caucasian and African-American women have continued to increase. Since 1987, more women have died from lung cancer annually than from breast cancer. One of the keys to success in reducing the number of these deaths for both sexes is prevention. Tobacco use is believed to be the cause of 80% of lung cancer cases. Smoking cessation, or even better, never smoking at all, coupled with an awareness of risk factors and a knowledge of signs of the disease can help reduce your chances of developing this malignancy. Two good places for more information on lung cancer are the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health at
www.cancer.gov 
and the American Cancer Society at
www.cancer.org
Risk Factors
Tobacco use: Risk increases with number of years of smoking as well as number of cigarettes, cigars, or pipes smoked per day.
Environmental tobacco smoke (involuntary or passive smoking): Risk increases by exposure to the smoke in the air created when other people smoke.
Personal history of lung cancer: People who have had lung cancer are more likely to develop it again when compared to a person who has never had the disease.
Asbestos: Those who work with asbestos have an increased risk of developing lung cancer.
Radon: This odorless, tasteless, invisible radioactive gas is created by the natural breakdown of uranium. When concentrated in the home or workplace, it increases a person's risk of developing lung cancer.
Lung diseases: Some lung diseases, such as tuberculosis and some types of pneumonia, can often leave scars on the lung, increasing a person's risk of developing lung cancer.
Signs of Possible Lung Cancer
Lingering cough
Hoarseness
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Bloody sputum
Recurring infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia
New onset of wheezing
Weight loss and/or loss of appetite
Swelling of neck and face
Fatigue
Adapted from the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org) and the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health (www.cancer.gov). Please visit these Web sites for complete information
