Some interesting facts:

• About 15% of lung cancer cases occured in non-smokers.
• Men are more successful at stopping smoking, so their death rates have been dropping.
• For every 100 non-smokers diagnosed, 60 are women and 40 are men.
• For every 100 smokers diagnosed, 60 are men and 40 are women.
• Young girls are more likely to start smoking than boys.

The cause of lung cancer depends upon a number of factors such as smoking, radon exposure, occupational hazard such as exposure to carcinogens asbestos particles (Mesothelioma). Out of all these reasons, cigarette smoke, with carcinogens at its high concentration, inhaled by both smokers and nonsmokers is the leading cause of lung cancer.

Futhermore, more than 87% lung cancer sufferers confirm that the origin of the lung cancer is tobacco smoking and for the rest, the cause of the lung cancer is environmental exposure to tobacco smoke. The additional causes of lung cancer encompass exposure to a cancer-causing agent in the work place and a family or personal history of lung cancer.

Of late, the scientists have found how these causes of lung cancer change the DNA of cells in the lungs. The DNA genetic substance normally carries the instruction to the cells on what they should do. The main genetic cause of lung cancer is due to DNA mutations that either activates oncogenes (Genes that promote cell division) or inactivates tumor suppressor genes (Genes that slow down cell division or cause cells to die at the appropriate time). Due to the DNA altering, there may be proliferation of cells, which is uncontrollable and eventually leads to lung cancer.

Occasionally this mutation of DNA may be inherited during one's lifetime and may act as a cause of lung cancer, which is very rare. Some individuals have a low ability to nullify the effect of certain types of cancer-causing chemicals and this may act as a cause of lung cancer.

Do you know asbestos workers are 7 times more liable to be a victim to lung cancer? An important cause of lung cancer apart from tobacco smoking is exposure to asbestos fiber. The asbestos workers are at lung cancer danger of 50 to 90 times greater than that of common man. The greater peril of developing lung cancer starts from the pleura regardless of whether they are smokers or non-smokers. Nowadays, the government has completely ceased the use of asbestos in industrial and commercial goods.

Radon, another cause of cancer, is a radioactive gas produced in the natural process of uranium breakdown. The indoor radon is more risky than outdoor radon. Hence the houses built on uranium rich soil developed a high rate of indoor radon, which is a main cause of lung cancer in that area.

There are other carcinogens present in the workplace that act as a cause of lung cancer. These carcinogens include fuels such as gasoline, diesel exhaust, mustard gas, inhaled minerals or chemicals such as arsenic, vinyl chloride, coal products, beryllium, nickel chromates, etc.

Marijuana is considered to be one of the causes of lung cancer. The proportion of tar in marijuana is more than cigarettes. Marijuana is usually inhaled strongly and kept in the lungs for a long time and contains tumor-causing substances the same as that of tobacco. Marijuana not only causes lung cancer but also throat and mouth cancer.

Even if there are various reasons for lung cancer, tobacco smoking is considered to be the primary cause of lung cancer. Hence, quitting smoking is considered to be the best action for eliminating the cause of lung cancer.

Lung cancer is treatable if it's caught early. The usual treatment is surgery. Those with late diagnosis are treated
with chemotherapy and radiation. However, most of the people with lung cancer today will probably die from their disease.

The information you just read was pulled from many different resources. You
should continue searching for information until you believe you have a firm grasp of the subject.

A good place to start would be The American Cancer Society: www.cancer.org

"Every adversity carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit." Napoleon Hill