What Causes Lung Cancer? Insights from a Respiratory Consultant

Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide, but sadly it is also still one of the leading causes of cancer deaths. However, thanks to modern diagnostic techniques and new treatments becoming available the survival from lung cancer is starting to improve. The earlier we pick up lung cancer the better our chances of curing it. In this post we are going to answer some of the common questions about lung cancer, to help you understand it more and if you have any concerns please contact us so that we can put you in touch with one of our lung cancer specialists.

Lung cancer often develops slowly, and symptoms may not show until the cancer has progressed.  However, some early signs to look out for include:

•    Persistent cough that doesn't go away
•    Coughing up blood
•    Shortness of breath
•    Chest pain or discomfort
•    Unexplained weight loss
•    Fatigue/ tiredness 

If you notice any of these symptoms, especially if they last for more than a few weeks, it's really important to talk to your doctor. Although these signs may not always be related to lung cancer, the earlier we can diagnose it the best chances we have of treating it.

Smoking is indeed the most common cause of lung cancer. In fact we believe that approximately 85% of cases are caused by smoking. This isn’t just cigarette smoke, other tobacco including shisha can also contribute to this risk. In fact shisha is very potent tobacco and according to the world health organisation one hour of smoking a shisha can be the equivalent to smoking about 100 cigarettes. 

Although most cases of lung cancer do occur in smokers it can also develop in non-smokers. There are other environmental factors that can increase risk including second-hand smoke, air pollution, asbestos exposure and radon gas. Therefore even if you aren’t a smoker, but especially if you are – it is important to seek medical help if you are concerned about symptoms.  

Stopping smoking is the single most important thing that people who smoke can do for their health. If you would like advice about stopping smoking please contact us and ask to speak to one of our lung doctors who can help review your lung health and guide you to stop smoking.

The simple answer to this question is “we don’t know!”. The long-term effects of vaping are still being studied. Generally vaping is considered less harmful than smoking traditional cigarettes, but it isn’t without its risks. E-cigarettes contain harmful chemicals, and some studies suggest they may cause lung damage over time. We would advise you to avoid any form of inhaled substances as the long term effects are not yet fully understood.

While most lung cancer cases are related to environmental factors like smoking, genetics can also play a role. A family history of lung cancer may slightly increase your risk, especially if close relatives developed the disease at a young age. Medical research has discovered some gene mutations that are more common in some groups of people and although these genes can increase your risk of cancer, knowing about them is important as they can also help to tailor treatment specifically targeted at those types of lung cancer. If you are concerned about your genetic risk, you can speak to a healthcare provider about genetic screening and ways to reduce your risk.

The survival rate of lung cancer mainly depends on the stage at which it is diagnosed. Early-stage lung cancer has a higher survival rate because treatment options, like surgery, are more likely to be possible and effective. On the other hand, lung cancer that is diagnosed at a later stage can be more difficult to treat. According to statistics, the five-year survival rate for lung cancer varies. In very early stage disease that is treated curatively survival at 5 years can be as high as 95%, but this drops to about 5% when the cancer has progressed and spread to other organs.

Lung cancer screening is crucial, especially if you are at high risk. The NHS recommends screening for lung cancer every 2 years in adults aged 55 to 74 who have a significant smoking history. If you have smoked for a significant portion of your life, or have other risk factors such as exposure to harmful substances or a family history of lung cancer, you should consider getting screened. Lung cancer screening usually consists of a review of your risk factors and then a low dose CT scan. The CT scan will pick up any abnormalities in the lungs that can then be investigated further or monitored for changes as appropriate. Large screening studies have proved that lung cancer screening does save lives, by picking up disease early and allowing curative treatment to be offered. 

The earlier lung cancer is detected, the more treatment options are available, and the better the chance of survival. Speak with your healthcare provider to determine if screening is right for you.

If you have any concerns or questions about lung cancer, don't hesitate to contact our specialists. At One Welbeck we are lucky that we have several leading lung cancer physicians who have years of experience in diagnosing lung cancer. This can be a very stressful and worrying time for patients and our expertise allow us to support you through the process to make sure that you have the best possible care and access to options for treatment. Each patient is different and the pathway through the diagnostic process is unique. However, the first steps are likely to be a consultation with a lung cancer specialist doctor and some imaging of the lungs – usually a CT scan. Then depending on what that shows we will talk you through your options and what next steps are needed.

Lung nodules are very common. They are small lumps, spots or shadows on the lungs that in most cases are completely harmless. However, in a few cases (less that 10%) they can represent an early lung cancer. We often see these nodules on scans that have been done for all sorts of reasons. This can create worry, but it is a good thing to pick them up. Knowing that the lung nodule is there gives us the opportunity to keep an eye on it and monitor it for changes. We have expert radiologists who can review your scans and interpret the risk of your particular images. This was we can make sure we act early on any changes, but that also we are confidently able to reassure you if everything looks ok. If you have been told that you have a lung nodule on a CT scan please do contact our team and we will be able to guide you through the process.

We are here to provide the support and information you need to take proactive steps for your lung health. If you’d like to discuss If you have any questions about your respiratory health, contact our expert team.