Cigarette smoking or smoking in general is known to be the cause of most lung cancers. Lung cancer can develop in people who do not smoke, although this is much rarer and should be on the decline due to the recent smoking ban in England. The risk of developing lung cancer will increase with the number of cigarettes you smoke.

Lung cancer has always been more common in men, in fact males over the age of 45, as more men used to smoke than women. But more women have started smoking early in life and the number of women developing lung cancer has gone up a lot.

Stopping smoking NOW

If a person stops smoking, the risk of lung cancer goes down quite a lot quite quickly and after about 10 years, that person’s chances of developing the disease are similar to that of a non-smoker.

Passive smoking

It's a known fact that breathing in other people’s cigarette smoke, known as passive smoking, slightly increases the risk of lung disease and cancer, although the risk is still much less than if you smoke yourself.

Cannabis

Smoking cannabis may also increase the risk of lung cancer. Although less is known about the harmful effects of smoking cannabis, it is believed to cause similar damage to the cells in the lungs, as smoking tobacco.

Pipes and cigars

Pipe and cigar smokers have less of a risk of lung cancer than cigarette smokers, they are at a much greater risk than non smokers.

Genetic risk

Some people who's families who have a history of lung cancer, if the person smokes may be more likely to develop lung cancer due to an inherited faulty gene. We do not know what this gene is yet.

If you have been in prolonged or close contact with asbestos you have a higher risk of lung cancer, especially if they smoke. Asbestos and tobacco smoke act together to increase the risk of lung cancer. People who have been in contact with asbestos during their working lives, usually removing roofing. Small exposure increases the risk of lung cancer but only slightly, compared to the risk from smoking, while increased high exposure may result in a much higher risk of lung cancer. Asbestos exposure also increases the risk of mesothelioma, a cancer of the membranes which cover the lungs. If your have worked with asbestos and developed lung cancer, you may be able to claim compensation or be paid Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.

In some areas of the United Kingdom, such as the Peak District and the West Country, a naturally generated gas called radon sometimes can pass from the ground into building foundations. It is now thought that radon, in large concentrations, may increase the risk of developing lung cancer. If you are worried about this, you can get a radon detector to measure the level of radon in your house, from the radiation protection division of the Health Protection Agency. The best guide to the level of radon in a building is a measurement. This takes three months - and an additional month or so to process and report the results. It is a simple procedure with monitors issued and returned by normal post, so no visit is required.

Contact with certain chemicals and substances, such as nickel, chromium and uranium, can cause lung cancer, but these are very rare causes. Air pollution from cars, factories and other sources has been suggested as a cause of lung cancer but this is difficult to prove.

Lung cancer is not infectious desease and cannot be passed on to other people.

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