Lung Cancerreducing Your Risk - Chapter 5 Lung Cancer Whos At Risk: Cancer

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Lung cancer-Reducing your risk

Without a doubt, the best way to avoid lung cancer is not to smoke. The longer you smoke - and the more often you smoke each day- the greater your risk. In addition you should:

Avoid secondhand smoke. The American Cancer Society points out that a nonsmoker living with a smoker has a 30% greater risk of developing lung cancer than do those who live with other nonsmokers. It's important that you keep smokers from lighting up in your house, vehicle, or workplace.

Avoid asbestos exposure. In addition to staying away from tobacco, avoid exposure to asbestos. Although asbestos has not been used by the construction industry for a number of years, it once had a wide variety of uses, for example, in furnace and steam-pipe insulation, in dry wall or Sheetrock, and as a strengthener for cements and plastics. Many older buildings still include asbestos products. Be particularly cautious when renovating an older home or other building. If you have concerns about whether asbestos is present, hire an inspector who can check for its presence.

Check your home for radon. Radon can seep from the ground into your home, making it important to test for - particularly in the basement, where its presence is more likely.

Avoid other known toxins. Chemicals that are not as common as asbestos or radon also increase your risk for lung cancer. Miners who breathe in radioactive ores, such as uranium, are at risk, as are workers who are exposed to arsenic, vinyl chloride, nickel chromates, coal products, mustard gas, or chloromethyl ethers.

Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. People who eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables have a lower risk of cancer. This rule holds true for lung cancer as well. A review of population studies shows that for every additional serving of fruits and vegetables per day there is a 5% reduction in the risk of lung cancer. Scientists are still trying to determine which substances in fruits and vegetables have cancer-protective effects. There is evidence that a number of vitamins and nutrients can lessen your risk of developing cancer. However, it is not yet possible to single out foods or nutrients that specifically protect against lung cancer.

Last updated:	May 01, 2008