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Affecting both men and women, lung cancer is the second most common cancer (discounting skin cancer) and a leading cause of cancer death in both sexes according to the American Cancer Society. The good news: Many lung cancers can be prevented since they are related to smoking, second-hand smoke, and sometimes, radon exposure or other environmental factors.
There is no doubt that lung cancer can be a serious disease. However, those with lung cancer found at an early stage can be treated successfully. While signs and symptoms may not occur at an early stage, being proactive and knowing the risk factors can help you, and your doctor, determine if testing is needed.
Most lung cancers do not cause any symptoms until it spreads, but some individuals who are in the early stages may experience symptoms. The key is to alert your doctor to any symptoms you have early on, when treatment may be more effective.
Symptoms may include:
Prevention, then, may mean avoiding the items listed above (except family history, which cannot be controlled). For those individuals at a higher risk for lung cancer, a test called a Low-Dose CT scan, becoming known as the "mammogram" of lung cancer testing, available at the Independence Health System Lung Center.
If you are a current or former smoker between the ages of 50 and 80 and have at least a 20 pack year history of smoking cigarettes, you likely qualify ...
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