| More and more often, I come across cases of | | | | be caused by air pollution in the Swedish |
| nonsmokers who develop lung cancer. My | | | | capital city, Stockholm. |
| attention is always drawn to news of this | | | | |
| nature because my husband passed away at the | | | | Past Cancer Treatment: Researchers in Sweden |
| age of 51 from brain and lung cancer. He | | | | who looked at the medical records of 140,000 |
| never smoked a day in his life. | | | | breast cancer patients found that there was |
| | | | an increase of lung cancer 5 to 20 years |
| The complacency non-smokers have shared over | | | | after breast cancer treatment. Suspicion is |
| the years is no longer a viable option. | | | | that radiotherapy in the chest area may have |
| Smokers and non-smokers alike are vulnerable | | | | made the lungs more susceptible to the |
| to a disease which is largely incurable. | | | | disease. |
| Among patients with lung cancer, only about | | | | |
| 14% live five years after their diagnosis. | | | | Estrogen Replacement Therapy: According to |
| | | | researchers at the University of Pittsburg, |
| In the face of a disease that seems to have | | | | estrogen may fuel the growth of non |
| neither rhyme nor reason, what can we do to | | | | small-cell lung cancer. |
| protect ourselves? First, assess your risk | | | | |
| for lung cancer; then take measures to | | | | What preventative measures can we take? |
| prevent the disease. | | | | |
| | | | Diet: An apple a day may keep lung cancer |
| What are the risk factors for lung cancer? | | | | away. A Finnish study suggests that apples |
| | | | not only keep doctors away, but provide |
| Gender: Unfortunately, women seem to be more | | | | protection for the lungs as well. This study |
| vulnerable to lung cancer. Research has shown | | | | found that people who ate the most apples |
| that female smokers are more susceptible to | | | | were 58 % less likely to develop lung cancer. |
| the cancer-causing chemicals found in | | | | Other studies suggest that lung cancer risk |
| cigarettes. In another study, a gene linked | | | | is lower among smokers and non smokers who |
| to abnormal lung cancer cell growth was found | | | | ate at least 5 servings of vegetables and |
| to be more active in women than in men. It | | | | fruits daily. |
| did not matter whether the women smoked or | | | | |
| not. | | | | Beta Carotene: A high intake of beta carotene |
| | | | compounds can lower your lung cancer risk; |
| A family history of lung cancer: Evidence | | | | however, studies also show that the beta |
| suggests that there is a lung cancer gene | | | | carotene is only effective when the compounds |
| which predisposes offspring to develop lung | | | | are ingested from whole foods such as |
| cancer. However, the evidence is far from | | | | peaches, melon, carrots, mangoes, dark leafy |
| conclusive as the situation is made difficult | | | | vegetables, squash etc. The opposite effect |
| by the fact that offspring of smokers have | | | | seems to take place with beta carotene |
| been exposed to a smoking environment since | | | | supplements. A Finnish study reported 18% |
| childhood and would therefore have a greater | | | | more lung cancer cases among heavy smokers |
| risk for developing the disease. | | | | who took beta carotene supplements. And a |
| | | | National Cancer Study on the effects of |
| Scarring from previous lung disease : | | | | vitamin A and beta carotene was halted |
| Scarring in lungs caused by tuberculosis or | | | | because smokers taking the supplements had |
| other lung disease can be a risk factor for | | | | 28% more lung cancer than those taking a |
| lung cancer. | | | | placebo. |
| | | | |
| Second-hand smoke: Exposure to second-hand | | | | Selenium and Vitamin C: Taking selenium |
| smoke has been shown to be a definite risk | | | | supplements on a long- term basis has been |
| factor. Your risk increases by 30 percent | | | | shown to decrease the incidence of lung |
| from daily exposure to second-hand smoke. | | | | cancer. In one study, people taking 55-200 |
| This is probably the most significant risk | | | | mcg of the mineral daily had a 46% lower rate |
| factor for lung cancer in non-smokers. | | | | of lung cancer. As well, studies indicate |
| | | | that people who take less than 90 mg of |
| Exposure to radon: Radon is an odorless gas | | | | vitamin C on a daily basis may have a 90% |
| than can seep out of the soil into buildings. | | | | higher risk of lung cancer than those who |
| Worse yet, the gas can seep from the soil | | | | take 140mg or more. |
| into water near residential communities. | | | | |
| Radon has been implicated as a potential | | | | Avoid second-hand smoke and check your house |
| cause of lung cancer. | | | | for radon. |
| | | | |
| Air pollution: Long-term occupational | | | | There are never guarantees in life, but it |
| exposure to diesel exhaust fumes may increase | | | | makes perfectly good sense to take some |
| lung cancer risk by 47%. Air pollution in | | | | preventative measures as these can not only |
| general is a risk factor in the general | | | | improve your overall quality of health and |
| population. Swedish researchers estimate that | | | | life but also prevent lung cancer. |
| as many as 1 in 10 cases of lung cancer may | | | | |