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About 87% of lung cancer cases are caused by smoking. The lung cells of smokers go through changes that can lead to lung cancer. The longer people have been smoking, and the more packs per day they smoked, the greater their risk is of developing lung cancer. Former smokers are also at elevated risk for lung cancer.
People exposed to radon, a radioactive gas that can be in houses, are at increased risk of lung cancer.
People who work with asbestos also have a higher risk of getting lung cancer and another form of cancer called mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can affect the lining of the lungs and stomach. If they smoke as well, the risk is greatly increased.
Besides smoking and asbestos, there are other risk factors for lung cancer. These include certain cancer-causing agents in the environment, aging, and lung scarring from some types of pneumonia.
Some people whose parent or brother or sister had lung cancer are at increased risk of lung cancer, especially if the person smokes or smoked and the parent or brother or sister was young. Some African-Americans with lung cancer in the family may be at higher risk.
Some people have never smoked and never worked with asbestos, nor ever been exposed to any known cancer-causing agents; yet, they still get lung cancer. There are unknown factors, and right now there is no sure way to prevent lung cancer.
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