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Lung cancer is mainly a disease of middle and late life. It is rare in the under 30s. Most patients are aged around 70.
It affects both men and women. In men, the lung cancer rate is going down. This is because fewer men now smoke. In women, the rate is rising. This is because many more women started to smoke from the 1940s onwards.
Around 8 out of every 10 cases of lung cancer are thought to be caused by smoking. All forms of smoking can cause lung cancer, although smoking cigarettes is worse than smoking cigars or pipes.
Asbestos and radon gas are thought to cause a small number of lung cancers.
Asbestos is a material that has been used in industries such as construction and shipbuilding. Breathing in asbestos dust can cause different types of lung disease, including a cancer called mesothelioma.
Radon gas is a gas that builds up naturally in the soil, and can seep into buildings. It is more likely to build up in certain areas. If it builds up to a very high level, it may pose a cancer risk.
Doctors don’t always know what has caused a patient’s lung cancer. We know a lot about the possible risks - especially smoking - but some people who have never smoked or knowingly breathed in asbestos can end up with lung cancer.
