There are some features that are more common in people who develop lung cancer. These features are called ”risk factors”.
Having one or more risk factors does not mean that you will develop cancer. It can also be unclear whether a risk factor contributed to the development of the cancer in a person. However, by doing what we can to change these risk factors, we can reduce the risk of developing lung cancer.
The greatest risk factor for lung cancer is smoking, with the greatest risk for those that began smoking early in life and smoked more often or longer.
Risk factors for lung cancer you can change:
- avoid tobacco smoking (current or past smoking)
- avoid breathing in someone else’s tobacco smoke (passive smoking)
Risk factors for lung cancer you can’t change:
- increasing age (getting older)
- history of chronic lung disease over a long time, including chronic pulmonary disease and pulmonary fibrosis
- exposures through work to chemicals, such as asbestos, diesel exhaust and silica
- personal history of cancer, including lung cancer, head and neck cancer and bladder cancer
- breathing in air pollution
If you have any of these risk factors or you’re worried about your risk for lung cancer, yarn with your doctor, nurse, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health worker.