Causes of Lung cancer

Lung cancer Causes: Risk Factors

The following conditions have been cited in various sources as potentially causal risk factors related to Lung cancer:

• Smoking - about 87% of lung cancers are related to smoking
• Starting smoking at early age
• Smoking many packs a day
• Passive smoking
• Cigar smoking
• more risk factors »

Lung cancer Causes: Risk Factors

The following medical statistics relate to risk factors for Lung cancer:

• Risk of lung cancer 54% higher in African American men than white men America (CBCF Health Organisation, 2004)
• African Americans are 50% more likely to get the disease than whites in America (CBCF Health Organisation, 2004)
• more stats »

Lung cancer: Related Medical Conditions

To research the causes of Lung cancer, consider researching the causes of these these diseases that may be similar, or associated with Lung cancer:

• Small cell carcinoma
• Non-small cell carcinoma
• Radiation
• Pancoast's tumour
• Superior sulcus tumour

Lung cancer: Causes and Types

Causes of Types of Lung cancer: Review the cause informationfor the various types of Lung cancer:

• Primary lung cancer - see categorization by cell types affected:
  • Small Cell Lung Cancer - also Small cell carcinomas or "oat cell" cancers
  • Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer - more common than small cell lung cancer; there are various non-small cell subtypes:
    • Squamous cell carcinoma (lung) - also called "epidermoid carcinoma".
    • Adenocarcinomas (lung)
    • Large cell carcinoma (lung)
• Metastatic lung cancer - when actually caused by another type of cancer; see underlying causes.
• Mesothelioma
• more types...»

Causes of Broader Categories of Lung cancer: Review the causal information about the various more general categories of medical conditions:

• Cancer
• Respiratory system cancer
• Lung conditions
• Respiratory system tumors
• Respiratory conditions
• Chest conditions
• Smoking-related conditions
• more types...»

Lung cancer as a complication of other conditions:

Other conditions that might have Lung cancer as a complication may, potentially, be an underlying cause of Lung cancer. Our database lists the following as having Lung cancer as a complication of that condition:

• Asbestosis
• Chemical poisoning -- Asbestos
• Coal worker's pneumoconiosis
• Colorectal cancer
• Endometrial Cancer
• Esophagus Cancer
• Hodgkin's Disease
• Kidney Cancer
• Liver cancer
• Marijuana abuse
• Melanoma
• Nicotine addiction
• Occupational Cancer -- Lung cancer
• Occupational Cancer -- Respiratory tract cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Pneumoconiosis
• Smoking
• Stomach cancer
• Thyroid cancer
• Uterine Cancer

Lung cancer as a symptom:

Conditions listing Lung cancer as a symptom may also be potential underlying causes of Lung cancer. Our database lists the following as having Lung cancer as a symptom of that condition:

• Li-Fraumeni syndrome
• Tuberous sclerosis, type 2
• Tumours related to AIDS

What causes Lung cancer?

Article excerpts about the causes of Lung cancer:
87% of lung cancer is caused by smoking, so what about the other 13%? There is evidence that exposure to tobacco smoke in the home, usually from a smoking spouse, may increase the risk of lung cancer in non-smoking women. Nearly 9 out of 10 non-smoking Americans are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (also known as "second-hand" smoke), as measured by levels of nicotine in their blood. The best scientific studies show that restrictions on second hand smoke reduce the risk of death and injury to non-smokers, including the hundreds of thousands of children with asthma and other respiratory illness. The FDA has classified second-hand smoke as a Group A carcinogen (known to cause cancer in humans.) Studies have also evaluated environmental tobacco exposure outside the home, either in a work or social setting but they provide inconclusive results. More studies are needed to determine how much exposure might be harmful in any of these settings. (Source: excerpt from Lung Cancer: NWHIC)

Medical news summaries relating to Lung cancer:

The following medical news items are relevant to causes of Lung cancer:

• 17 substances added to America's list of carcinogens
• Cancer deaths take over deaths caused by heart disease
• CAT scans may be an effective early detection tool for lung cancer
• Chemical signals involved in cancer causes found
• Chronic bronchitis and emphysema linked to lung cancer
• Cow's milk may be the key to many of western society's health problems
• Diabetes linked to smoking
• Gulf War Veterans want more studies done to determine link between their symptoms and their service in the war
• Lung cancer may be an inheritable conditon
• Many cancers are preventable
• More to smoking than just cancer
• Naturally occurring gas causing 20,000 lung cancer deaths in Europe
• Occupational exposure to asbestos results in death
• Occupational exposure to pesticides link to cancer
• Passive smoking during childhood increases risk of adult lung cancer
• Pesticides may cause lung cancer
• Secret to lung cancer development revealed
• Smoking addiction
• Smoking-related deaths increasing worldwide
• South African cancer risks being defined by research
• Women too are at risk of lung cancer
• More news »

Cause statistics for Lung cancer:

The following are statistics from various sources about the causes of Lung cancer:

• Smoking is responsible for 87% of African Americans lung cancer cases in America (CBCF Health Organisation, 2004)
• more statistics...»

Related information on causes of Lung cancer:

As with all medical conditions, there may be many causal factors. Further relevant information on causes of Lung cancer may be found in:

• Risk factors for Lung cancer
• Hidden causes of Lung cancer