What are some causes of lung cancer

Lung cancer alone is the leading cause of cancer deaths in America.  Three out of five people diagnosed with lung cancer, die within the year.  More Americans die from lung cancer than colon, prostate, and breast cancers combined.  For this reason, it is important to understand what causes lung cancer, so that we can prevent it in our children and grandchildren. 
Lung cancer, along with all types of cancer, can run in the family.  While it is not guaranteed, it does put you at a much higher risk if your family has had a history of lung cancer.  Women smokers are more likely to develop lung cancer than men.
The main cause of lung cancer, as you may know, is smoking.  Smoking causes the majority of lung cancer diseases, while other main causes are secondhand smoke, exposure to radon, and exposure to carcinogens, asbestos, or other chemicals at work.  There are also many things that are known to increase your risk of developing lung cancer as well.
Smoking causes lung cancer by damaging the cells.  The body can fight the damaged cells at first, but after several exposures, the amount of damaged cells will be far too many for the body to cure.  These damaged cells will begin to act abnormally, and over a period of years the abnormal cells can turn into cancerous cells.  Carcinogens can take the same action against secondhand smokers and workers who are exposed to carcinogens at work. 
Besides smoking and being exposed to carcinogens, there are other causes because some people who develop lung cancer have non e of the above.  Possibilities could be that they have high radon levels in their home, or they are simply at a higher risk. 
As we discussed above, there are many risk factors when it comes to developing lung cancer, two being hereditary and sex.  All cancers can be passed down through generations, and women are generally at a higher risk than men.  Other than that, drinking alcohol and overall being unhealthy can increase your risk of developing lung cancer.
If you are looking to prevent lung cancer in you or a loved one, then you should start evaluating ways to decrease their risk factors and decrease their exposure to things that are known to cause lung cancer.  Be sure that the causes are avoided as much as possible, and always stay healthy.  Maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise can not only prevent one from developing lung cancer, but all cancers and many other diseases or illnesses.
If you are suspecting that you or a loved one may have or develop lung cancer, be sure that that person gets tested regularly.  Share your concerns with the doctor and get a CT scan.  From there the doctor can relieve your worries or you may have to undergo further testing.  Do not worry; there are many different tests that are taken before lung cancer can be diagnosed.  With each test there are more common possibilities, and it is not final until you are testing if the cells are cancerous or noncancerous.  Do not diagnose yourself; always let your doctor make the call.