The Impact of Smoking and Additional Risk Factors on the Development of Lung Cancer.

Smoking really plays a big part in causing lung cancer. It's like the main reason for about 85% of all cases of lung cancer. The bad stuff in tobacco smoke hurts the cells in our lungs, making them change in a way that can lead to cancer. Plus, smoking makes our immune system weaker, so it's not as good at fighting off those cancer cells. To lower the chance of getting lung cancer, it's super important to stay away from smoking and not be around secondhand smoke.

Smoking is closely linked to different types of lung cancer, especially non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). So, kicking the smoking habit can really make a big difference in keeping our lungs healthy and reducing the risk of getting cancer.

Lung cancer comes in two main types: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) and Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC).

First off, NSCLC is the most usual kind. It includes adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. On the other hand, SCLC is heavily connected to smoking, with about 95% of cases happening in smokers or those who smoked before. SCLC grows and spreads quickly, making it pretty aggressive.

Generally, the more and harder you smoke, the higher the risk of getting lung cancer. But here's some good news: quitting smoking can really cut down that risk and make your overall health better.

Now, if you're at a high risk for lung cancer, doctors might suggest a screening. This is like a checkup to catch any problems early. The usual way is through low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) imaging of the chest. They usually recommend this for people who are 55 to 80 years old, used to smoke a lot (at least 30 pack-years, which is how many packs a day times how many years).

Apart from smoking, there are other things that can up your chances of getting lung cancer. Breathing in secondhand smoke, radon gas, asbestos, air pollution, or having a family history of it can play a part. Even certain jobs, like working with arsenic or diesel exhaust, can be a risk.

These things can mess up your lung cells over time, leading to cancer. So, it's super important to find it early. Lifestyle changes like quitting smoking and avoiding these harmful things can really help lower the chance of getting lung cancer.

Remember, all this info comes from Dr. Harish Kancharla, who's a Medical Oncologist and Hemato-Oncologist at Yashoda Hospitals in Hyderabad.