“Am I at risk? (lung cancer)”
Hello,
My mother died of small cell lung cancer at 50 (which is young) and she had never smoked.
I want to know if I have a high risk of getting it. And if I should go for a consultation.
My mother died of small cell lung cancer at 50 (which is young) and she had never smoked.
I want to know if I have a high risk of getting it. And if I should go for a consultation.
Male | 21 years old
1 Answer
Hello.
You are asking a very common question. “What is my risk of inheriting a trait that can cause an uncommon cancer?”
Small cell lung cancer is among the list of cancers that commonly occur starting in the lungs, but can also occur starting in other organs. This type of lung cancer is commonly associated with cigarette smoking (80% of the time). There are other risk factors that have been identified including exposure to second hand smoke, exposure to radiation sources such as radon, air pollution, or exposure to asbestos. There have been some inherited chromosomal changes that may be implicated, but these are in the investigational realm and haven’t been directly implicated as a cause. No routine testing is available at this time.
More information can be obtained from an article published online by the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org. It is entitled “Small Cell Lung Cancer, Causes Risk Factors and Prevention.”
Prevention methods are documented in the above article. These include avoiding the use of tobacco, avoiding exposure to other chemicals that are thought to be a link to this form of cancer, avoid exposure to radon, and eat a healthy diet.
This type of cancer is rare, and rarer still in non-smokers. My advice to you is to obtain regular medical care and continue to be a non-smoker. Good luck in your future.
You are asking a very common question. “What is my risk of inheriting a trait that can cause an uncommon cancer?”
Small cell lung cancer is among the list of cancers that commonly occur starting in the lungs, but can also occur starting in other organs. This type of lung cancer is commonly associated with cigarette smoking (80% of the time). There are other risk factors that have been identified including exposure to second hand smoke, exposure to radiation sources such as radon, air pollution, or exposure to asbestos. There have been some inherited chromosomal changes that may be implicated, but these are in the investigational realm and haven’t been directly implicated as a cause. No routine testing is available at this time.
More information can be obtained from an article published online by the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org. It is entitled “Small Cell Lung Cancer, Causes Risk Factors and Prevention.”
Prevention methods are documented in the above article. These include avoiding the use of tobacco, avoiding exposure to other chemicals that are thought to be a link to this form of cancer, avoid exposure to radon, and eat a healthy diet.
This type of cancer is rare, and rarer still in non-smokers. My advice to you is to obtain regular medical care and continue to be a non-smoker. Good luck in your future.
