What Is Lung Cancer?
Also known as lung carcinoma, it is the leading cause of all cancer deaths in the United States. It is a malignant lung tumor characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. This growth can continue spreading beyond the lung by the process of metastasis into nearby tissues or other organs of the body.
Causes of Lung Cancer
According to the American Lung Association, smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer and it causes nearly 90 percent of all lung cancer cases. However, smokers are not the only ones at risk. Studies have shown that even non-smokers are put at risk of getting lung cancer (or other serious illnesses) when exposed to secondhand smoke.
The second-leading cause of this type of cancer is exposure to Radon, which is a colorless, odorless and radioactive gas that exists naturally in soil.
Reduce Your Risk:
- Don’t start smoking in the first place
- Quit smoking right away if you do smoke
- Avoid secondhand smoke
- Test your home for Radon
- You can buy an easy-to-use Radon Test Kit at certain hardware stores