The link between smoking and lung cancer is clear. There’s a reason that the tobacco industry has changed over the decades as people become more and more aware of the fact that smoking kills.
That being said, it is important not to take things too far and assume that lung cancer only comes from smoking. The American Lung Association (ALA) said in one report that 28,000 people in America who were living with the disease had never smoked at all in their lives.
For instance, exposure to harmful materials, such as asbestos, can also cause cancer. People who are exposed to these materials at work may inadvertently harm themselves for years on end as they breathe in these materials.
How long can you live with lung cancer? Every case is different, but treatment has gotten better and more and more people are surviving this potentially fatal disease. Experts point to advancements in treatment options and improvements in diagnosing lung cancer. They especially stress that, as with other types of cancer, the best chances of survival come when the disease is diagnosed as early as possible. The sooner treatment begins, the better.
Unfortunately, many cases are never found until they are fairly advanced. Even with positive changes in recent years, awareness is still very important and people need to know as much as possible about early detection.
If you are living with lung cancer, you know all about the treatment options and they way they and the disease can change your life. Make sure you also know about all of the legal options you have.
Source: Cancer Treatment Centers of America, “Living with lung cancer,” accessed May 18, 2018