In 2017, the World Health Organization released a report stating that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women worldwide. However, despite its high mortality rate, early detection is the best chance of survival.
What is Lung Cancer?
Lung cancer is a type of cancer that affects the lungs. It’s very rarely found in the other organs. Since it affects the lungs, it would cause a bunch of symptoms such as shortness of breath, cough that does not go away, fatigue, etc.
If you suspect you have lung cancer, it’s important to seek medical advice as early detection leads to better outcomes.
Lung cancer can be detected at an early stage when it’s easiest to treat. If it’s caught early, the survival rate is around 90%.
Risk Factors
There are a lot of risk factors that lead to lung cancer, but the most important one is smoking. Not only is it unhealthy, but it’s also the number one cause. Smokers are around 18 times more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smokers. Apart from smoking, other factors that increase the risk of getting lung cancer include exposure to asbestos, radon gas, coal tar, and chemicals.