How to prevent lung cancer?

What chance will I get lung cancer?

The number one cause of lung cancer is tobacco exposure. You may increase your smoking years. And the increase in the number of smokers increases the risk of lung cancer. Of course, you may also suffer from lung cancer due to increased exposure to second-hand smoke. People who have never smoked may also suffer from lung cancer, but their risk of cancer is greatly reduced compared with smokers.

What can I do to reduce the risk of lung cancer?

The best way to reduce the risk of lung cancer is to avoid smoking. It is never too late to quit smoking from now on. The sooner you quit smoking, the more you can benefit from it, even if you can’t quit smoking completely, it is better to reduce the number of cigarettes, although the effect is not as good as quitting smoking completely.

There are many ways to help you quit smoking, such as medical consultation, nicotine replacement or drugs. People always try many times to finally quit smoking successfully, so don’t be discouraged. Assuming you didn’t succeed in quitting smoking for the first time, stick to it!

Is there any other way to reduce the risk of lung cancer?

There are other ways that may reduce the risk of lung cancer, but so far there is no definite evidence.

They include:

  1. Eat a lot of fruit

  2. Regular exercise

  3. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, etc.)

  4. Glucocorticoid for inhalation (for emphysema and asthma)

  5. Statins (used to reduce blood lipid)

Eating lots of fruit and exercising won’t hurt your body, but it is best to discuss with your medical consultant before changing your diet and activity habits. Communicate with him before taking any drugs, including over-the-counter drugs you usually use.

Is there any factor that can increase my risk of lung cancer?

We know that there are some factors that can definitely lead to the risk of lung cancer. Although we do not have sufficient evidence to prove their harmful nature, in order to stay away from lung cancer, it is better to pay attention to these factors, including:

  1. Smoking

  2. Asbestos, a mineral formerly commonly used in building materials, is also occasionally used now.

  3. Radon, a radioactive gas, exists in the environment.

  4. A large amount of-carotene intake (common pigment in vegetables and fruits)

  5. Vitamin E intake in excess of the recommended daily dose

  6. Hormone replacement therapy (estrogen, progesterone, etc.)

  7. Severe alcohol abuse

It is recommended to consult a medical expert before you want to start or stop taking drugs or vitamin supplements.

How about lung cancer screening?

The most effective way to reduce lung cancer is to quit smoking. At present, the most meaningful way is to diagnose lung cancer in the early stage, that is, before any clinical symptoms occur. Patients diagnosed in the early stage can obtain a fairly good prognosis. This is called screening. Recent studies have confirmed the effectiveness of lung cancer screening, so the guidelines are recommended.

However, a new study found that lung cancer screening with CT examination can greatly reduce the mortality rate of lung cancer. Therefore, Several organizations, including the American Association of Thoracic Surgery and the American Preventive Services Task Force, currently recommend medical institutions to provide lung cancer screening for those who have a history of smoking with chest CT. In this regard, consult your medical consultant if you can benefit from this screening.

Summary

Lung cancer is a common form of cancer. You can reduce your risk of lung cancer through many efforts, such as reducing smoking and consulting your medical consultant on whether to use drugs to treat nicotine dependence. Discuss with your medical consultant what efforts you should make to reduce the risk of lung cancer.