Lung Cancer Causes
The most common lung cancer cause is smoking tobacco. However, exposure to asbestos can also lead to this cancer. If you developed lung cancer, you might qualify for financial compensation. Learn about the possible causes of lung cancer and how to get help.
Does Asbestos Cause Lung Cancer?
Yes, asbestos is a key lung cancer cause. While smoking is far and away the main cause, asbestos exposure is responsible for over 27% of lung cancer deaths each year.
Asbestos fibers can damage lung tissue, potentially leading to lung cancer in both smokers and nonsmokers 10-50 years after exposure.
Asbestos lung cancer can be very dangerous and even life-threatening. Thankfully, treatments are available no matter what caused your lung cancer. Financial compensation might also be available as well.
Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide to learn more about common causes and how to get help after a lung cancer diagnosis.
- Understand risk factors
- Find top treatments
- Pursue compensation
How Asbestos Causes Lung Cancer
When someone is exposed to asbestos, they can inhale tiny fibers that get trapped in the lungs. The fibers can’t be destroyed or removed by the human body, and they irritate lung tissue for decades.
After 10-50 years, the damage from the asbestos fibers can cause lung cancer tumors to form.
Cases of asbestos causing lung cancer are all too common. Asbestos is behind over 34,000 lung cancer deaths annually, according to the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO). Tragically, manufacturers of asbestos products knew the risks but hid them for decades.
Smokers exposed to asbestos are at a high risk of lung cancer since the fibers worsen the damage smoking does to the lungs. Asbestos also causes other types of cancer, notably mesothelioma, which often affects the lung lining.
Call (877) 446-5767 now to get help if you believe asbestos caused your lung cancer. Treatments and compensation may be available.
Other Common Lung Cancer Causes
Smoking is the most notable cause of lung cancer aside. Radon, secondhand smoke, and a family history of lung cancer are other notable risk factors besides asbestos exposure.
Smoking Cigarettes
Most cases of lung cancer are caused by smoking. In fact, over 80% of lung cancer deaths are linked to smoking, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Cigarettes have at least 70 carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) in them. People who are exposed to asbestos and tobacco smoke are even more likely to develop lung cancer than those who only smoked.
Besides cigarettes, tobacco products like pipes and cigars are other common lung cancer causes.
Radon Exposure
Radon is a radioactive gas with no smell or color. It is found everywhere, but is not harmful unless it enters homes from cracks in walls, floors, and foundations.
Radon is the leading lung cancer cause in nonsmokers, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It’s also the biggest cause of lung cancer behind smoking.
First floors and basements usually have the highest radon levels since they are close to the ground. Radon levels are higher in homes that are tightly sealed and built on soil rich in thorium, uranium, and radium.
Exposure to Secondhand Smoke
Secondhand smoke is when you breathe in someone else’s smoke. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes there’s no safe amount of secondhand exposure.
There are two forms of secondhand smoke:
- Mainstream smoke is the smoke exhaled by a smoker.
- Sidestream smoke is smoke from the end of a pipe, cigarette, hookah, or cigar. It has higher concentrations of carcinogens and nicotine than mainstream smoke.
Over 7,300 people die from lung cancer caused by secondhand smoke per year, according to the American Lung Association (ALA).
Family History of Lung Cancer
Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that you are twice as likely to develop lung cancer if a family member has already had it.
The risk increases if you have been exposed to cigarette smoke, asbestos, or other toxins. The ACS also reports that someone is at a higher risk of developing lung cancer again if they have already had it.
Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals
Exposure to hazardous chemicals like arsenic, asbestos, beryllium, nickel, cadmium, chromium, and certain petroleum products is another common lung cancer cause. These toxins alter a person’s DNA, potentially leading to cancer.
Many toxic chemicals are released through air pollution (such as diesel exhaust), putting anyone living nearby in danger of lung cancer.
Lung Cancer Causes by Type
There are two main types of lung cancer: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), both of which can be caused by exposure to asbestos, smoking, and other pollutants.
Is Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Caused By Asbestos?
Yes, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) can be caused by asbestos exposure. This is the most common type of lung cancer, with over 80% of patients having this type.
Over 17% of NSCLC patients were found to have pleural plaques, a hallmark of asbestos exposure, during surgery as noted in a BMC Cancer report.
Those diagnosed with asbestos-related NSCLC can also fall into a specific subtype (such as adenocarcinoma), which can impact prognosis and lung cancer treatment options.
Can Asbestos Cause Small Cell Lung Cancer?
Yes, asbestos exposure can cause small cell lung cancer (SCLC). SCLC is rarer than NSCLC and more aggressive. While it’s commonly associated with smoking, asbestos can cause or contribute to cases as well.
Asbestos exposure led to a significantly increased risk of SCLC in men, according to a Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene report.
Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide to explore next steps you can take if you’ve been diagnosed with lung cancer after asbestos exposure.
- Understand risk factors
- Find top treatments
- Pursue compensation
Metastatic Lung Cancer Causes
Metastasis (cancer spread) occurs when lung cancer cells break off from a main tumor and travel to other parts of the body through the lymph nodes or bloodstream.
Many lung cancer patients are diagnosed with metastatic disease. This is because lung cancer may not cause noticeable symptoms until it has spread through the body. However, doctors can still recommend treatments to help metastatic lung cancer patients.
Help for Lung Cancer Caused by Asbestos
If you suspect you have lung cancer, reach out to an experienced oncologist. Medical professionals can use lung cancer screening tests, like CT scans, X-rays, and biopsies, to determine if you have cancer.
If you have lung cancer, they can recommend treatment options, such as clinical trials, targeted therapy, and other cancer care. Further, you may qualify for compensation depending on what caused your lung cancer.
Our team can help you recover compensation for:
- Basic living expenses like groceries and rent
- Health care costs
- Lost wages
- Travel expenses if you live far away from a hospital
Call (877) 446-5767 or request our Free Lung Cancer Guide right now to see how we can assist you.
Lung Cancer Causes FAQs
Is lung cancer caused from asbestos?
Yes. Asbestos exposure has been known to cause lung cancer as well as mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer that can form in the lining of the lungs or other organs.
If you’ve been exposed to asbestos in the past and aren’t feeling well, see a doctor immediately. They can run tests to determine if you have cancer and explain if asbestos exposure may have played a role.
Asbestos causes what type of lung cancer?
Asbestos exposure can cause any type of lung cancer. The most common type is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, those exposed can develop the rarer small cell lung cancer (SCLC) as well.
If you developed any type of asbestos lung cancer, contact our team to find out if you can pursue compensation for treatments and other expenses.
How does asbestos cause lung cancer?
Asbestos causes lung cancer by damaging healthy lung tissue. Asbestos fibers are sharp and fibrous, and if breathed in or swallowed, they can get trapped inside the lungs and never leave.
Over decades, the sharp fibers cause irritation that may eventually lead to mutations in lung tissue, causing lung cancer.
What are common lung cancer causes in nonsmokers?
Asbestos exposure, secondhand smoke, radon gas, and more can all cause lung cancer in nonsmokers. If you have possible lung cancer symptoms or are simply worried about your risk, talk to your doctor to get screened.
Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide to learn more about the causes and potential symptoms of lung cancer and to see how we can help.
What is the cause of lung cancer in women?
Lung cancer causes for women are generally the same as for men (smoking, secondhand smoke, and asbestos exposure).
The American Cancer Society projects that 115,970 women will be diagnosed with lung cancer in 2025, compared to 110,680 men. However, roughly 4,000 more men will die than women this year.
What is the cause of fluid in lungs from lung cancer?
Pleural effusion, or fluid buildup in the lining of the lungs (pleura) from lung cancer, develops as a side effect of the body trying to fight cancer.
There’s always a little bit of fluid in the pleural space, and this helps the lungs expand and contract as you breathe. However, cancer cells can cause your body to make too much of this fluid, leading to symptoms like difficulty breathing.
