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The Universal / La Voz de Michoacán
Mexico City. When someone who has been smoking all his life ends up with lung cancer, it's sad, but not surprising.
The harmful effects of smoking are well documented and documented, and smoking is by far the leading risk factor for the disease, accounting for 80-90% of lung cancer cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention of diseases.
In addition, lung cancer derived from second-hand smoke causes the deaths of 7,300 people who have never smoked.
Yes, it means that you can have lung cancer without ever smoking in life. In fact, you can be the healthiest person in the world (do not smoke, exercise every day, eat healthy) and still have lung cancer (even if your risk was lower) .
The worst thing in this case is that the symptoms of lung cancer are not noticeable at an early stage. And as with any other cancer, the longer the treatment, the lower the chances of survival.
Radon exposure
Radon causes 20,000 cases of lung cancer each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This radioactive gas is released when uranium breaks down in the soil, rocks and water. The gas then travels on the ground and in the air. Levels in outdoor air are generally safe, but when radon is trapped in homes or buildings, it can accumulate to dangerous levels.
What does this have to do with lung cancer? According to the National Cancer Institute, radon releases radioactive particles that can damage the cells lining the lungs. According to a survey conducted in 2013, inhaling these particles for long periods can cause cell mutations associated with lung cancer.
The WHO estimates that between 3% and 14% of lung cancer cases are attributed to radon; The first cause of this disease in those who do not smoke. However, in the case of Mexico, concentrations are higher in the north of the country, according to the debate.
Radon can not be seen, tested or smelled, so we need to be well informed about it.
Exposure to asbestos
Working in certain environments, such as shipyards, mines, textile mills and factories, can expose workers to asbestos, a type of heat-resistant fiber that is often used as insulation, which increases the risk of cancer. lung.
Older buildings may also contain asbestos, but this is only dangerous if the materials that contain it end up being damaged.
According to the American Cancer Association, inhaling or swallowing these fibers may adhere to the mucus of the throat, trachea or larger respiratory tubes of the lungs. If the fibers spread in the small airways or in the outer lining of the lungs and chest, they can wreak havoc on the cells, which could lead to lung cancer.
Exposure to other carcinogens
Other harmful substances that can be found in the workplace and have been associated with an increased risk of lung cancer according to the AAC include:
L & # 39; arsenic
Diesel exhaust
Some forms of silica
Chromium
Nickel
Beryllium
Cadmium
Tar and soot
Pollution of the environment
Living in highly polluted places, such as Mexico, increases the risk of lung cancer. According to estimates of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, 223,000 people worldwide died of lung cancer caused by air pollution in 2010.
Different types of particles (solid or liquid and large or small) are released into the air we breathe. This includes things like acids, chemicals, metals, dirt and dust, according to the American Lung Association.
Our body is able to fight larger particles more easily, usually by coughing or sneezing. But these microscopic particles in the air are more dangerous because they can infiltrate into the lungs and even into the bloodstream.
Family history
Having a parent or brother or sister who has had lung cancer means that you are twice as likely to develop the same disease, especially if it has been detected young, according to the National Cancer Institute. However, it is not known if the risk is increased by genes or exposure to second-hand cigarettes.
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