Overlake Pulmonologist Shares Top 4 Lung Cancer Risk Factors

What are the top four risk factors for lung cancer?

Smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer. The more you smoke, the greater your risk. One in 16 people who smoke cigarettes will be diagnosed with lung cancer. About 90% of lung cancer cases could be prevented by eliminating tobacco use, according to the World Health Organization. The good news is, you can significantly reduce your risk by quitting smoking — even if you’ve smoked for a long time. 

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While smoking greatly increases your lung cancer risk, many people who never smoked also get the disease. In fact, women who have never smoked are more likely to get lung cancer than never-smoking men.

Other risk factors include:

• Exposure to secondhand smoke.
• Radiation therapy for another cancer.
• Air pollution, especially in urban or industrial areas.

What about vaping?

Vaping is often promoted as a less harmful alternative to traditional smoking, but emerging research suggests it’s far from risk-free. While e-cigarettes may expose users to fewer carcinogens than tobacco smoke, they still deliver nicotine and other chemicals directly into the lungs — many of which can cause serious health problems. 

For individuals with asthma, vaping can worsen symptoms and trigger flare-ups. Beyond that, the inhalation of harmful substances found in vape liquids can lead to chronic lung inflammation, tissue damage, and potentially increase the risk of cancer over time.

Recent studies show a troubling trend: people who both vape and smoke are up to four times more likely to develop lung cancer compared to those who only smoke. Even former smokers who switch to vaping may face higher risks than those who quit nicotine altogether. 

Although a direct link between vaping alone and lung cancer hasn’t been definitively established, the long-term effects are still under investigation. Many ingredients in vape products are known carcinogens, and the damage they cause may not become apparent for decades. So while vaping might seem like a safer choice, it’s important to understand the potential health consequences — especially as more data continues to emerge.

Why is screening for lung cancer important and who should get screened?

Lung cancer doesn’t usually cause noticeable symptoms in its early stages. Symptoms begin when the disease becomes more advanced. That’s why it’s so important to get regularly screened if you’re at risk. Lung cancer outcomes greatly improve if detected early. This will help doctors monitor your health and potentially catch lung cancer before it spreads.

Lung cancer screening is a commitment, not a one-time event, and screening is not a substitute for quitting smoking. Overlake Cancer Center conducts more than 100 screenings per year and follows the latest guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which recommends that you undergo lung cancer screening every year if:

You’re between 50 and 80 years old, in relatively good health and:

• You smoke or have quit smoking within 15 years.
• You smoked for at least 20 “pack years.” To figure out your pack years, multiply the number of packs you smoked per day by the number of years that you smoked.

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. No matter where you are in your cancer journey, whether you’re worried that you’re at risk of getting lung cancer, or have been diagnosed with the disease and want to learn more about our innovative treatments, we're here for you.

Call us today with any questions or to make an appointment: 425.635.3400. For more information on lung cancer and how to get screened, visit our website at overlakehospital.org/lungcancer