Lung Cancer Causes
Lung cancer does not typically develop without some sort of causal factors. While certainly, like many diseases, there have been cases of lung cancer for which there is no attributed cause, these are extremely rare and generally considered clinical anomalies. The majority of lung carcinomas are caused by one of three factors, exposure to tobacco smoke, exposure to radon, and exposure to asbestos.
Smoking
Smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer and is responsible for nearly 85% of lung cancer deaths in the United States each year, making it the leading cause of cancer death among men and the second-leading cause of cancer death among women.
To learn more about smoking and lung cancer click here...
Radon
Radon refers to a gas generated through the breakdown of radioactive radium, a decay product of uranium. Radon exposure is the second most-common cause of lung cancer, following smoking. Radon is emitted from the earths bedrock, with levels varying by local. Sustained exposure to radon is considered highly toxic and can dramatically increase lung cancer risk.
To learn more about radon exposure and lung cancer click here...
Asbestos
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral used in a number of different industrial capacities before it was found to be toxic in the late 1970s. While asbestos exposure is more commonly associated with the development of malignant mesothelioma (a cancer of the mesothelial lining of the lung), some cases of traditional lung carcinomas have been attributed directly to asbestos exposure.
To learn more about asbestos exposure and lung cancer click here...