The latest stats on non-smoking related lung cancer, tips to reduce your risk and how to screen for it.

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Lung cancer only happens to smokers, right? 

Unfortunately this is a pretty common myth. While a history of smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer, as many as 10% to 20% of cases each year happen in people who have smoked less than 100 cigarettes in their lifetimes – or have never even smoked. And these non-smoking induced cases of lung cancer are on the rise, especially in females. 

Your home may be contributing to your lung cancer risk

The number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers is radon exposure. Radon is a gaseous element that’s naturally present in the environment. It forms when radioactive metals, like uranium that is present in most soil, break down in soil, rocks and groundwater. And it can seep into peoples’ homes. When inhaled, radon decays quickly and gives off tiny radioactive particles that can damage the lining of the lungs. Long-term inhalation of radon can lead to lung cancer. 

Radon can enter into a home through cracks in the foundation, well water or building materials. Your home can then trap radon inside, causing it to build up over time to unhealthy levels. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 1 in 15 homes in the United States have unsafe levels of radon. And certain geographical areas may be more at risk. The agency recommends that people test their homes for radon, which can be done with over-the-counter radon testing kits. 

Secondhand smoke is also a concern

While it’s obvious to most people that regularly smoking – or having a past history of smoking – can dramatically increase your lung cancer risk, it’s important to remember that secondhand smoking is also a significant risk. Since 1995, an estimated 2.5 million people have died from health problems due to secondhand smoke exposure. Adults who don’t smoke but are around people who do increase their risk of developing lung cancer by 20% to 30%. 

Even brief exposure to secondhand smoke is said to damage the body’s cells in a way that can set them on a path of becoming cancerous in the future. And in addition to lung cancer, exposure to secondhand smoke can also cause heart disease, stroke, reproductive issues, and other diseases. 

You may not live with a smoker but having a coworker who smokes, a friend who you regularly see who lights up a cigarette or a relative who smokes around you can lead to an increased risk of cancer. Studies show that even living in an apartment building where neighbors smoke can be a risk factor, as smoke can travel through vents, windows and doors. And being around secondhand smoke is even harmful if you are outdoors.

Occupational exposure to chemicals can also be a risk factor

Chemicals like asbestos can lead to mesothelioma, a cancer that develops in the lining of the organs like the lungs. Being exposed to other chemicals like arsenic, silica, nickel, cadmium, beryllium and coal fumes can also increase one’s risk. One study found that certain occupations like gas station attendants, bus and truck drivers, dry cleaners, hairdressers can be exposed to these on-the-job lung cancer causing chemicals. 

Firefighters may also be exposed to toxic chemicals that are released when materials burn and release carcinogenic fumes. And some reports estimate that 29% of lung cancer deaths can be attributed to air pollution, which can be prevalent around construction sites, wood-burning stoves, automobile plants and even in everyday urban areas. 

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There is also a genetic component to lung cancer

8% of lung cancer cases diagnosed are due to inherited genes. And a family history of lung cancer increases the risk of death in people who smoke and do not smoke.  

Regular lung cancer screening does not exist (unless you’re the 4.9% of the population considered high risk)

Lung cancer is responsible for more cancer-related deaths in Americans than any other cancer. It accounts for more deaths than prostate cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer combined. It’s estimated that 1 in 16 men will be diagnosed with lung cancer at some point in their lives. And for women, the ratio is 1 in 17. Every two minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with the disease and it is said to kill 357 Americans a day!

Lung cancer screening is currently recommended on an annual basis only for people who: 

• Have a history of smoking one pack per day for 20 years
• Currently smoke or have quit only within the last 15 years
• Are within the ages of 50 to 80 

The primary diagnostic tool for lung cancer is a low-dose CT scan, which carries some inherent risk. The Centers for Disease Control notes that repeated radiation from these annual screenings could possibly increase the odds of cancer in otherwise healthy individuals. But experts stress that for high-risk populations, the benefits of early detection through CT screening far outweighs the potential risks from radiation exposure.

Prenuvo can scan your body from head-to-ankle, checking for lung cancer along the way

With the rise in non-smoking related lung cancer diagnoses, many people who are unknowingly at risk are not finding out about their cancer until it has progressed into advanced stages. This is because symptoms of lung cancer do not often present until later stages of the disease. Sadly, lung cancer has one of the lowest survival rates of all cancers, partially due to its reputation for being diagnosed so late. 

Prenuvo’s Whole Body MRI Scan, Head & Torso and Torso scans can all detect lung cancer, as early as Stage 1. Our industry-leading MRI can also check for 500 other conditions, including identifying early-stage tumors elsewhere in the body to check for aneurysms, spine degeneration, signs of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, metabolic disorders and gastrointestinal abnormalities. 

The five-year survival rate for lung cancer caught at stage 1 is 65% vs. 5% for those diagnosed at Stage 4. With Prenuvo, you have the chance to be proactive with your health, instead of reactive, with the ability to detect conditions like lung cancer early when they are the most treatable.

Prenuvo is not a replacement scan for those who are determined to be at high risk for lung cancer by their doctors, as low-dose CT scans are the recommended gold standard for those situations. But it can be an extremely beneficial tool for screening the 88.5% of the United States population that doesn’t smoke for lung conditions and tumors. It’s also a great way for current or past smokers to get a look at the inside of their lungs, which is often the motivation they need to put down the cigarettes once and for all. This has a profound and immediate impact on improving a person’s health:

• 20 minutes after stopping smoking: Your heart rate and blood pressure will stabilize. 

• A few days after quitting: Your body’s carbon monoxide level drops to normal. 

• Several weeks after quitting: Your circulation will have increased. 

• 1 to 12 months after quitting: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease and mucus clear from the lungs, greatly reducing your risk of infection.

• 5 to 10 years after quitting: Your risk of mouth, throat and voice box cancer is reduced by 50%.

• And 10 years after putting down the cigarettes: Your lung cancer rate will be nearly half of the risk of a person who is still smoking after 10 to 15 years of smoking. You’re also at a reduced risk of bladder, esophagus and kidney cancer.

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