The most common cause of lung cancer is long term exposure to tobacco smoke....smoking accounts for 20% of all male & 5% of all female deaths among Indians between the ages of 30 & 69. On an average men who smokes bidi shorten their lives by about 6 years & who smokes full - sized cigarette lose about 10 years of life. Worldwide, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer related death in men & women & is responsible for about 1.3 million death annually. Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of lung. The most common symptoms are shortness of breath, coughing ( including coughing up blood ), weight loss, wheezing or hoarseness and repeated respiratory infections etc. Lung cancer was uncommon before the advent of cigarette smoking, it was not even recognised as a distinct disease until 1761. The time a person smokes ( as well as rate of smoking ) increases the person's chance of developing lung cancer. If a person stops smoking, the chance steadily decreases as damage to the lungs is repaired & contaminant particles are gradually removed. Non smokers account for 15% of lung cancer cases & these cases are often attributed to a combination of genetic factors, radon gas, asbestos & air pollution including second hand smoking. On average, people with untreated lung cancer survives 6 months. Early diagnosis improves survival ( 5 years of 60 to 70% ). Prevention of lung cancer includes quitting smoking & avoiding exposure to potentially cancer - causing substances in the work environment.
