Lung Cancer: Reducing Your Risks

Stay away from tobacco and chemicals.

Legacy doctor and patient discussing lung cancer screening

What you need to know

Most lung cancers result from smoking or breathing other people’s smoke. Some lung cancers are related to chemicals and other environmental factors.

Choosing to quit smoking for your health is one of the best reasons to stop smoking. As for secondhand smoke, avoid people who are smoking and places where people smoke.

Avoid chemicals and other environmental exposures that can cause cancer, such as:

Radon
Asbestos
Chemicals in the workplace such as arsenic, diesel exhaust and more

Many lung cancers are not found at an early stage, making them harder to treat. Legacy Cancer Institute has a screening test that can detect cancer in heavy smokers and can help save lives.

The older you are, the higher your risk for lung cancer. The average age in the United States for lung cancer is about 70. Studies suggest that family history and heredity are also risk factors for lung cancer; if you have a family member diagnosed with lung cancer before age 50 or have multiple relatives who experienced lung cancer, your chances for lung cancer increase.

How to quit smoking

Quitting tobacco can be a difficult and long process. On average it takes more than six serious attempts. But there is a good reason to quit: Quitting smoking reduces your risk of dying. Smoking causes 1 in 5 deaths in the United States every year.

Call the Tobacco Quit Line of Oregon and Washington, 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669)

More information

Go 2 Foundation: About lung cancer screening
Who is eligible for lung cancer screening?

Schedule your screening

To learn more about lung cancer screening or to schedule an appointment, please call 503-413-8050.