Clinical guidance
Lung Cancer Q&A
Published April 2, 2024
Clinical guidance
Published April 2, 2024
About 4 out of every 5 lung cancer deaths are linked to cigarette smoking — so not smoking is the best thing you can do to lower your risk of lung cancer. For people at high risk for lung cancer, testing is available.
Lung cancer is a collection of abnormal cells that starts in the lungs. There are two types of lung cancers: small cell and non-small cell. These types grow differently and are treated differently.
Smoking cigarettes is the leading cause of lung cancer. Lung cancer risk is also higher for people who use other tobacco products (like cigars or pipes) or breathe other people’s smoke (called secondhand smoke).
Radon, a naturally occurring gas, is the second leading cause of lung cancer. It can’t be seen, tasted, or smelled. People may breathe in high radon levels if they live or work in buildings where radon comes in through cracks or holes.
It’s recommended that you get tested for lung cancer if you fall into all 3 of these categories:
You can get a low-dose computed tomography (also called a low-dose CT scan, or LDCT), the only recommended screening test for lung cancer. An LDCT scan is an x-ray of your lungs. It only takes a few minutes and it isn’t painful.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (July 31, 2023). Basic Information about Lung Cancer.