Lung Cancer.....WHAT is it? WHO is the most at risk? HOW to prevent it!






        What Lung Cancer is: This form of cancer, which kills more people than breast and colon cancers combined , occurs when cells in the lungs grow rapidly and out of control. The most aggressive type is small-cell lung cancer, while the most common kind is non-small-cell cancer, which affects about 85% of patients and spreads more slowly.




      Who is most at risk? Smokers, those with a family history of the disease, and people exposed to air pollution, asbestos, radon, or secondhand smoke. Although cigarette smoking accounts for more than 80% of lung cancer cases, many nonsmokers get the disease too, and their numbers are on the rise. "All you need to get lung cancer are lungs," says Dr. David Cooke, head of general thoracic surgery at The University of California , Davis.




      How can one prevent it?


1) If you smoke, quit. And avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.


2) Pay attention to air-quality alerts. Heed community warnings to stay inside when high levels of pollutants are in the air.


3) Keep a check on radon levels to make sure they stay low. Radon, an invisible radioactive gas, is the second-leading cause of lung cancer after smoking.


4) Eat plenty of produce: The antioxidants in produce appear to protect against cancer.


5)Request a low-dose CT scan if you are a smoker an ex-smoker. While the screening test doesn't prevent cancer , it can detect the disease earlier.