Why Does Lung Cancer Occur in Non-Smokers ?

[Extracted from MedicineNet.Com]

The dangers of secondhand smoke While cigarette smoking is an undisputed cause of lung cancer, not all cases of lung cancer occur in smokers or former smokers. Each year, over 170,000 Americans develop lung cancer, and approximately ten per cent of lung cancers, or 17,000 cases, occur in non-smokers. Although not every non-smoker suffering from lung cancer will have an identifiable risk factor for development of the disease, a number of conditions and circumstances have been identified that will increase a non-smoker’s chance of developing lung cancer.

Passive smoking, or the inhalation of tobacco smoke from other smokers sharing living or working quarters, is an established risk factor for the development of lung cancer. Non-smokers who reside with a smoker have a 24% increase in risk for developing lung cancer when compared with other non-smokers. Each year, up to 3,000 lung cancer deaths are estimated to occur in the U.S. that are attributable to passive smoking.


The Dangers of Secondhand Smoke !

Secondhand smoke is a mixture of the smoke exhaled by smokers and the smoke that comes from the burning end of a cigarette, cigar, or pipe. You also may have heard it called environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), passive, or involuntary smoke. Secondhand smoke contains more than 4,000 substances. Many of them are dangerous poisons and can cause cancer. Anyone exposed to secondhand smoke inhales these substances.

Lung disease, including lung cancer, is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. Secondhand smoke :

* Can cause lung cancer in nonsmokers; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lists it as a Group A carcinogen, a rating used only for substances (i.e., asbestos) proven to cause cancer in humans.

* Will cause an estimated 3,000 lung cancer deaths this year.

* Can be a direct health threat to people who already have heart and lung diseases.

* Increases the risk of serious lung disease during the first two years of a child's life.

Did You Know ?

* Nonsmokers who live with smokers are more likely to develop lung cancer than other nonsmoking adults.

* If you have asthma, secondhand smoke can make your breathing problems worse.

* Young children are especially sensitive to secondhand smoke. A baby who lives in a home where one or both parents smoke is more likely to have lung disease serious enough to need treatment in a hospital during the first two years of life.

* Children exposed to secondhand smoke in the home are more likely to cough and wheeze and to have middle ear problems.

How To Protect Your Family At Home ?

* Don't allow smoking in your home. Ask smokers to smoke outside or, if you must, limit smoking to a separately ventilated room.

* Be supportive. Help the smoker to quit.

* Place "Thank You for Not Smoking" signs around the house.

* Do not allow babysitters or others who work in your home to smoke in the house.

What If People Smoke Where You Work ?

NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) has determined that secondhand smoke may cause lung cancer in exposed workers.

* On-the-job exposure to secondhand smoke can be four times higher than in the home.

* Secondhand smoke can irritate your eyes, nose and throat.

* Some workers are already exposed to substances that can cause lung disease. Secondhand smoke in the workplace can only increase the danger.

* To protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke, the workplace must be totally smoke free or smoking must be limited to a separate, enclosed area with its own ventilation system. As of 1991, about 4 out of 10 American companies with smoking policies were smoke free.

A Special Message For Smokers

Smoke-free worksites can be tough on smokers. Here are some tips for coping :

* In smoke free areas, do something to take your mind off smoking. Take a walk or stretch. Have a glass of water or a light snack.

* If you must smoke, make sure you are not in a "No Smoking" area before you light up and don't let cigarettes smolder in ashtrays.

* Try to quit smoking. See if your company offers any programs to help you quit or contact one of the organizations listed on the back of this booklet.