What Increases Your Risk

Risk factors for lung cancer include:

• Tobacco use. Smoking and chewing tobacco are related to developing lung cancer, as well as to cancer of the mouth and throat. Over 85% of lung cancers are related to smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke. More than half of the people who are newly diagnosed with lung cancer are former smokers. The risk of developing lung cancer increases:
  • The longer you smoke.
  • The more cigarettes you smoke each day.
• Marijuana use. Smoking one marijuana cigarette, or a joint, may affect the lungs as much as smoking a pack of cigarettes.⁶
• Exposure to certain chemicals, such as arsenic, asbestos, radioactive dust, or radon.
• Radiation exposure from occupational, medical, or environmental sources.

When To Call a Doctor

If you have been diagnosed with lung cancer, be sure to follow your doctor's instructions about calling when you have problems, new symptoms, or symptoms that get worse.

Call or other emergency services immediately if you:

• Have new or sudden onset of chest pain that is crushing or squeezing, is increasing in intensity, or occurs with any other symptoms of a heart attack.
• Have new or sudden difficulty breathing.
• Are coughing up a lot of blood (not just streaks of blood or a small amount of blood mixed with a lot of mucus) from your lungs.
• Have been vomiting and feel that you may pass out when you sit up or stand.

Call your doctor immediately for medical evaluation if you have:

• Labored, shallow, rapid breathing with shortness of breath or wheezing, even when you are resting.
• Swelling of your neck and face.

Call your doctor to find out when an evaluation is needed if you:

• Have new chest pain (more than just discomfort when you cough) that lasts a long time and gets worse when you breathe deeply.
• Develop symptoms of pneumonia, such as shortness of breath, cough, and fever.
• Have a cough that produces a small amount of bloody (bright red or rust-colored) sputum.
• Frequently cough up yellow or green sputum from your lungs (not postnasal drainage) for longer than 2 days.
• Vomit frequently from coughing.
• Have a cough that lasts longer than 4 weeks.
• Breathe normally when you are at rest but are very short of breath after any physical exercise.
• Have increasing fatigue for no apparent reason.
• Have unexplained weight loss.

Watchful Waiting

Watchful waiting is a period of time during which you and your doctor observe your condition or symptoms but you do not receive medical treatment. Watchful waiting is not appropriate if you have symptoms that do not go away. If you are concerned about your symptoms and believe you may be at risk for lung cancer, call and make an appointment with your doctor.

It often is difficult to decide when to see a doctor for respiratory symptoms. See the topic Respiratory Problems, Age 12 and Older to find out if and when you need to see your doctor.

Who To See

Health professionals who can evaluate your symptoms and your risk for lung cancer include:

• Family medicine doctor.
• General practitioner.
• Internist.
• Nurse practitioner.
• Physician assistant.
• Pulmonologist.

Health professionals who can evaluate and treat your lung cancer include:

• Pulmonologist.
• Medical oncologist.
• Thoracic surgeon.
• Radiation oncologist.

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.