Lung Cancer Myths and Facts
It can be difficult to separate the facts about the effects of smoking on your lungs from the fiction. Find out what's true and what's a myth.
The facts
- Lung cancer is the UK's biggest cancer killer.
- Around 34,500 people die from lung cancer in the UK every year.
- Smoking is the single greatest avoidable risk factor for cancer. It causes one in four of all deaths from cancer in the UK.
- Worldwide, smoking has caused an estimated 100 million deaths in the last century.
- Around half of all regular smokers will die from the habit.
- Smoking causes 90% of lung cancers in men and up to 86% of cases in women.
- As soon as you stop smoking, your risk of lung cancer starts to go down. Ten years after you've stopped smoking, your lung cancer risk is half that of someone who's continued to smoke.
- The length of time that you've smoked is important. If you've smoked 20 a day for 40 years, your risk of lung cancer is about eight times more than if you've smoked 40 a day for 20 years.
The myths
Myth 1: it’s just a smoker’s cough
The truth is that a persistent cough is telling you something is wrong.
Myth 2: lung cancer is just a smoker’s disease
In reality, one in eight cases of lung cancer are not linked with smoking.
Myth 3: the only cause of lung cancer is smoking
Exposure to second-hand smoke and some substances such as asbestos will increase the risk.
Myth 4: lung cancer is a male, working-class disease
Lung cancer can affect anyone and there has been a big increase in the number of women who are affected.
Myth 5: only old people get lung cancer
Most people develop lung cancer in their 60s and 70s after many years of smoking, but occasionally people get lung cancer at a much younger age, even while still in their 20s and 30s.
Myth 6: lung cancer is a death sentence
New treatments have increased survival rates. If the cancer is caught early enough, it may be curable.
How you can keep your lungs healthy
- By keeping physically active, you help to keep your lungs healthy. Read more about getting fit.
- It's never too late to stop smoking. No matter how old you are, quitting can make a real difference to your health.
- If you don’t smoke, don’t start.
The Have I Got A Problem website is a free online resource to help people better understand any issues or concerns they may have about mental health or addiction. The website includes resources specifically focused to; general Mental Health, Depression, Stress, Anxiety, Insecurities, Self-harm Schizophrenia, Bipolar, Anger Management, Eating Disorders, Coping, general Addiction, Alcohol, Smoking, Gambling, Drugs, Cocaine, Heroin, Marijuana (Cannabis) Ecstasy, PCP, Mephedrone, Ketamine & Crystal Meth.
The site was created to give the public information to help them understand mental health and addiction issues and to assist people in making better informed decisions about their life and personal choices.
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Downloads
- What is a Smoking Addiction
- Why is Smoking Addictive
- How Smoking Affects the Body
- Benefits of Giving Up Smoking
- Help With Giving Up Smoking
- How Passive Smoking Hurts
- Smoking and Pregnancy
- Effects of Smoking
- Genetic differences help explain cigarette addiction
- Getting the best treatment for smoking addiction
Quotes
"Still puffing? Shame. As a smoker you’re now looking older than your years"
Brian
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