Lung cancer is the most common form of cancer-related death world wide and the causes of lung cancer are well documented. They include smoking, exposure to asbestos or radon and viruses. Some individuals are more at risk due to their family medical history or genetics. As a disease, lung cancer is characterised by uncontrolled cell growth in the lungs which can lead to metastasis. Symptoms include shortness of breath, weight loss, coughing and wheezing.

The causes of lung cancer are well known and easily reduced. Smoking, the number one cause of lung cancer, is easily avoided. Smoking increases the risk of lung cancer as cigarettes have carcinogenic chemicals in them which are the cause of damage in the lungs. Asbestos exposure reportedly increases the risk of lung cancer nine times.

Exposure to asbestos is reported to increase your risk of getting other forms of cancer and is also one of the key causes of mesothelioma. This particular form of cancer is particularly painful as it not only affects the lungs, but the lining of the chest and abdominal cavity. Exposure to asbestos is usually found to be linked to a persons job, such as a position in a mining or construction job where asbestos is commonly found.

Exposure to significant levels of asbestos in a workplace is a breach of workplace safety guidelines and as a result there is an increase in the number of individuals approaching a  mesothelioma lawyer. Class actions are also becoming more common with usually positive outcomes for the affected individuals. This is because an employer has put an employee in direct contact with asbestos fibres most common when the asbestos is disturbed and in the air where it is inhaled. Preventative measures are readily available and cheap appropriate clothing, masks and providing a safe work environment. Asbestos that is inhaled damages lung tissue but other industrial chemicals such as arsenic and nickel chromate are also carcinogenic.

Lung cancer is a common, but relatively easily avoided form of cancer. Smoking and exposure to harmful cancer-causing chemicals such as radon and asbestos can be avoided which will reduce your chances of getting this particularly virulent cancer.

For you to understand more about lung cancer, you must see the causes of lymphoma.