The Top Three Causes of Lung Cancer

The Top Three Causes of Lung Cancer

Krista Quincel

COM/156

June 18, 2015

Vera Burright

The Top Three Causes of Lung Cancer

There were 86,740 men and 70,759 women that died of lung cancer in 2012. Lung cancer is the primary cancer killer in men and women. Roughly 402,326 people in the United States have ever been diagnosed with lung cancer. It is the most common cancer around the world. There are many different causes of lung cancer. The three main causes of lung cancer are tobacco smoking, radon exposure and occupational exposure to carcinogens.

When we think about lung cancer the first cause that most people think about is smoking tobacco. Tobacco smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer in the United States. According to the Lung Cancer Association smoking causes 80% of lung cancer in women and 90% in men. Tobacco smoke contains a mix of over 7000 poisonous chemicals. (CDC, 2010) Also, the smoke contains toxic metals and poisonous gases. The damage that smoking causes to the lungs is done immediately. When you smoke a tobacco product you are causing damage to your DNA. The chemicals in the tobacco attack the cells in your body and when they do they damage your DNA. When DNA is impaired, cells can grow at any rate and create cancerous tumors. Research has found that the poisons in cigarette smoke dwindles tumor fighting cells. When that happens the DNA cells continue growing without anything stopping them, thus causing cancer tumors.

The second leading cause of lung cancer is not something most people think about. Radon, which is a noble gas, causes lung cancer as well. Radon exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. The particles of radon after it is broken down can harm the cells lining your lungs if the elements of this gas reach your lungs. Radon particles become wedged or trapped in the lungs, where they can emit and enter the cells of mucous membranes, bronchi, and other pulmonary tissues. The ionizing radiation energy...