November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Every day we breathe 22,000 times. Most of us never stop to think about our breath. But for those who struggle to breathe, it is all that matters.

With lung cancer now killing more Canadians than breast, colon, ovarian, and prostate cancers combined, and with Canada having some of the highest rates of asthma in the world, there has never been a clearer need or a better time to talk about the importance of lung health and learn about the struggles facing the one in five Canadians who can’t breathe with ease.

What Causes Lung Cancer?

The risk of developing lung cancer increases with age, and there are factors known to increase the risk of developing lung cancer. Some of the most common risk factors include:

• Smoking tobacco – Smoking cigarettes is the main cause of lung cancer and is related to more than 85% of lung cancer cases in Canada. The risk of developing lung cancer is influenced by how long a person smoked, their age when they started smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked each day. When smoking is combined with other risk factors, the risk of lung cancer is increased.
• Second-hand smoke - Second-hand smoke contains the same chemicals as smoke that is actively inhaled. People exposed to second-hand smoke have an increased risk of lung cancer.
• Radon - Radon is a colourless, odourless, tasteless gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in rocks and soil. In the outdoors, radon gas is diluted by fresh air, so it is not usually a concern. But radon can enter into a home through dirt floors or cracks in basement foundations. It may reach unsafe levels in enclosed, poorly ventilated homes because of seepage into the basement. Breathing in radon gas can damage cells that line the lungs, and increase the risk of lung cancer. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer in smokers.
• Asbestos - Asbestos is group of minerals that occur naturally. Asbestos has been widely used in building materials and many industries. Exposure to asbestos fibres in the air that people breathe increases the risk of lung cancer. The risk of asbestos exposure is highest for people who work with asbestos, such as miners or those who work with it in manufacturing.
• Outdoor air pollution - There is strong evidence that exposure to outdoor air pollution causes lung cancer. The risk for lung cancer increases with more exposure to air pollution. Pollutants in the air vary from place to place depending on sources of emissions in the area. 
• Personal or family history of lung cancer - People who have had lung cancer have an increased risk of developing a second lung cancer. First-degree relatives (siblings, children or parents) of people who have had lung cancer may have a slightly higher risk of developing lung cancer themselves.

Are You at Risk of Developing Lung Cancer?

Earlier this year, Cancer Care Ontario developed an online risk assessment tool to help you understand your risk for lung cancer and what you can do to help lower that risk. The My CancerIQ tool estimates your risk of cancer compared with other Ontarians of the same sex age 40 and over. At the end of the assessment you’ll receive a personalized risk assessment and action plan with tips and resources based on your personal risk factors.

Click here to determine YOUR risk. 

Now is the time to Quit.

Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your lung health. Within just eight hours of not smoking, the oxygen level in your blood increases to normal. Within two weeks to three months, your lung functioning increases up to 30 per cent. After 10 years, your risk of dying from lung cancer is cut in half. Click here to learn more about why quitting is so tough, how to manage withdrawl symptoms, and how to help someone who wants to quit smoking. 

Watch as Mary-Lynn, Smoking Cessation Counselor, shares tips about how to quit smoking.

Resources:

The Lung Association  
Canadian Cancer Society
Cancer Care Ontario