What you can do to help prevent lung cancer
You can’t always prevent lung cancer, but knowing the risk factors, taking steps to lower your risk when possible and getting screened can help support your long-term health.
Should you be screened for lung cancer?
Survival rates for lung cancer improve significantly with early detection, prevention and screening. Take our Lung Cancer Risk Assessment to find out if you should be screened for lung cancer.
Begin AssessmentLung cancer risk factors
Smoking
Smoking is the greatest risk factor for developing lung cancer. In fact, smoking causes nine out of 10 lung cancer cases in men and eight out of 10 cases in women. The best way to prevent lung cancer is to not smoke (this includes cigarettes, cigars and pipes) or vape. Smokers can decrease their risk of lung cancer by quitting. Learn more about quitting.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual lung screening for people between the ages of 50-80 who have a 20 pack-year smoking history and still smoke, or who have quit within the past 15 years. A pack-year history is the number of packs of cigarettes someone has smoked per day multiplied by the total number of years they have smoked. Calculate your smoking pack years here.
Secondhand smoke
Breathing in smoke from someone smoking near you is called secondhand smoke. Repeated or long-term exposure to secondhand smoke can increase your risk for lung cancer.
Family history
In both smokers and nonsmokers, those with a family history of lung cancer have an increased risk of developing the disease. It is unknown how much of this risk is due to genetics alone versus shared exposure among family members, like secondhand smoke. More research needs to be done to better understand the relationship between family history of this disease and cancer risk.
Environmental risk factors
Exposure to certain gases, chemicals or substances in the environment (at home or in the workplace) leads to a higher risk of developing lung cancer.
Radon, a radioactive gas, is the second most common cause of lung cancer after smoking. Radon is an odorless gas that develops when uranium in rocks and soil breaks down. Radon can then seep through cracks in the foundation, floors or walls of a home or building.
Additional cancer-causing substances found in workplaces include arsenic, asbestos, cadmium, chromium, diesel exhaust, nickel, tar and soot.
Radiation exposure
Exposure to radiation from imaging tests or radiation therapy to the chest can increase the risk of lung cancer.
Talk to your doctor about lung cancer screening
If you think you might be considered at high risk for lung cancer, talk to your primary care provider to find out if you qualify for lung cancer screening at MultiCare.
Detecting and treating lung cancer in its earliest stage
