Do you know?
Although a large number of studies have proved that smoking is the most important risk factor for lung cancer, not all smokers will eventually develop lung cancer, nor will they necessarily get lung cancer without smoking.
According to research studies, only 10%-20% of smokers develop lung cancer [1], while about 15%-25% of people in the lung cancer patient population do not smoke [2].
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Why don't people who smoke get lung cancer too? Ms. Li, who was diagnosed with lung cancer, has the same confusion.
Ms. Li, 50, has been coughing and chest tightness for nearly a year, but because she usually has no bad habits such as smoking and occasionally exercises, she does not care too much. Later, at the urging of her family, Ms. Li went to the hospital for examination and was diagnosed with lung cancer.
"Doctor, are you mistaken, how could I get lung cancer?" I've never smoked! Faced with the diagnosis of lung cancer, Ms. Li felt difficult to accept.
After asking Ms. Li about her living environment and living habits, the doctor explained to Ms. Li: "It is not that if you don't smoke, you won't get lung cancer. You don't smoke in your daily life, but you smoke a lot of 'invisible smoke'."
Popular science time
What is "invisible smoke"?
In addition to the familiar second-hand smoke, "invisible smoke" also includes smoke produced by the combustion of household solid fuels (such as coal, firewood, etc.) and oil fumes in the kitchen. These "invisible cigarettes", as a risk factor for lung cancer, can also lead to the occurrence of lung cancer.
Kitchen fumes
Three meals a day and four seasons is a desirable life. Chinese has always attached great importance to eating, and is also very good at eating - frying, frying, frying, roasting in turn, as far as possible to pursue the color and flavor of the dish.
Volatile substances contained in cooking fumes (e.g., benzopyrene, butadiene, phenol, etc.) have been shown to be carcinogens [3].
As the main force of Chinese families, the female group has been exposed to kitchen fumes for a long time, and the risk of lung cancer has greatly increased. Compared with people who don't cook, people who cook more than twice a day have a three-fold higher risk of developing lung cancer [4].
Household fuel
In some areas, families will burn coal in rooms with no ventilation or poor ventilation conditions, and stay indoors for a long time, such as northerners who close doors and windows in winter and burn coal or firewood indoors for heating.
The smoke from incomplete combustion of coal contains a large number of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon carcinogens[5], which increases the risk of lung cancer, and the risk of lung cancer in people who use household coal is 2.15 times higher than that of those who do not use household coal[6].
After listening to the doctor's explanation, Ms. Li finally accepted the fact that she had lung cancer and said that she would actively cooperate with the doctor for corresponding treatment.
Ms. Li's story is undoubtedly a wake-up call – although smoking is well known as the most important risk factor for lung cancer, in addition to smoking, there are many risk factors that can lead to lung cancer that we need to be extra vigilant.
So what other lung cancer risk factors besides smoking pose a threat to us?
Risk factors for lung cancer
air pollution
In addition to indoor air pollution such as second-hand smoke, smoke from the combustion of household fuels, and kitchen fumes, air pollution also includes outdoor air pollution such as industrial exhaust, emissions of automobile exhaust, and fuel combustion.
Occupational factors
Some occupations require exposure to carcinogens, and long-term exposure to these carcinogens can increase the incidence of lung cancer.
The World Health Organization's International Centre for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified nine carcinogens as lung cancer-causing substances, including: asbestos, arsenic and certain arsenic compounds, dichloromethyl ether and chloromethyl methyl ether, chromium and chromate, mustard gas/tar, combustion products of coal, mineral oil, and ethylene chloride [7].
Diet and physical activity
Studies have shown that people with low intake of fruits and vegetables and low levels of β carotene in serum have an increased risk of lung cancer, while moderate and high-intensity physical activity can reduce the risk of lung cancer by 13 to 30 percent [8].
Genetic factors
Genetic factors play a key role in the pathogenesis of lung cancer, and people with a family history of tumors are 2.47 times more likely to develop lung cancer than those without a family history of tumors [9].
Diseases of the respiratory system
Some respiratory diseases also increase the risk of lung cancer.
According to the International Lung Cancer Collaborative Group, emphysema increased the relative risk of lung cancer by 2.44 times, chronic bronchitis increased the relative risk of lung cancer by 1.47 times, tuberculosis increased the relative risk of lung cancer by 1.48 times, and pneumonia increased the relative risk of lung cancer by 1.57 times [10].
Radon
Radon gas mainly comes from some of the rocks, soil, granite and marble decoration materials that we come into contact with in our daily lives. Studies have shown that about 20% of lung cancers are associated with radon [11].
Other factors
In addition to the above factors, psychological and mental factors are also important factors that lead to the occurrence of lung cancer.
Studies have shown that high work intensity, impatience, and poor sleep quality can increase the risk of lung cancer [12].
Lung cancer focuses on prevention. Therefore, in our daily work and life, we should be vigilant against risk factors that may lead to lung cancer.
In addition to quitting smoking, we should also try to avoid the inhalation of "invisible smoke", strengthen occupational protection measures, high-risk groups and people engaged in high-risk industries recommend regular screening for lung cancer, in order to achieve early detection, early diagnosis, and early treatment.
bibliography:
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Luo Junlan. Popular science knowledge on lung cancer--Smoking and lung cancer[J]. Health Essentials, 2020(6):255,257.
Su Jingzhe. Pathogenesis of lung cancer in women[J]. Chinese Ethnic Folk Medicine,2011,20(12):6-7.] DOI:10.3969/j.issn.1007-8517.2011.12.006.
Zhang Yachen, Liang Di, Jin Jing, et al. Research progress on risk factors for lung cancer in non-smoking population[J]. Cancer Prevention and Treatment Research,2017,44(7):501-505. DOI:10.3971/j.issn.1000-8578.2017.16.1627.
[6],[12] Gao Holly, Wang Jialin. Research status of lung cancer risk factors[J]. Chinese Journal of Cancer Prevention and Treatment,2019,26(21):1657-1662. DOI:10.16073/j.cnki.cjcpt.2019.21.15.
Li Lanman,Wei Wei. Research progress on epidemiology and risk factors of lung cancer[J]. Oncology Research & Clinical,2018,30(12):875-879.DOI:10.3760/cma.j.issn.1006-9801.2018.12.015.
Ge Junbo,Xu Yongjian,Wang Chen. Internal Medicine[M]. 9th ed.: People's Medical Publishing House, 2018.76
LI Wei. In addition to smoking, there are six major scourges of lung cancer[J].Safety and Health, 2021(3): 79-79
[10] LI Yuanqiu,MO Hongyan. Research progress on major risk factors for lung cancer[J]. China Oncology,2016,25(10):782-786.DOI:10.11735/j.issn.1004-0242.2016.10.A008.
Deng Chunjun. Do you get lung cancer without smoking? You may have overlooked these 5 reasons[J]. Family Medicine (Happy Health), 2019(7): 52.
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