What factors cause lung cancer

Lung cancer is the most common primary lung malignancy. Most lung cancers originate from the bronchial mucosal epithelium, so it is also called bronchial lung cancer. The exact cause of lung cancer is still unknown. After years of extensive investigation and research, it is now generally recognized that the following factors are closely related to the cause of lung cancer.

(I) Smoking According to a large number of survey data from various countries, the cause of lung cancer is closely related to smoking. The increase in the incidence of lung cancer is parallel to the increase in cigarette sales. Cigarettes contain a variety of carcinogens such as benzopyrene. Experimental animals that inhale cigarette smoke or apply tar can induce respiratory and skin cancer. The incidence of lung cancer in smokers is 10 times higher than that of non-smokers, and the incidence is even higher for those who smoke a lot, 20 times higher than that of non-smokers. At the end of this century, with the increasing number of female smokers in Western European countries, the incidence of lung cancer in female patients has also increased significantly. Among the clinically diagnosed lung cancer cases, those who smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day for more than 30 years account for more than 80%. In the past 20 to 30 years, the smoking situation in China has been very serious, and nearly 300 million people have the habit of smoking. The smoking rate of male adults in major cities such as Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai is nearly 50%, and that of females is nearly 5%. There are also many smokers among young people. If necessary measures are not taken to control and discourage smoking, the incidence of lung cancer in China will inevitably increase further in the next 10 to 30 years. Long-term smoking can cause bronchial mucosal epithelial cell hyperplasia, squamous cell carcinoma or undifferentiated small cell carcinoma. Although non-smokers can also suffer from lung cancer, adenocarcinoma is more common.

(II) Air pollution The incidence of lung cancer is high in industrially developed countries, higher in cities than in rural areas, and higher in factory and mining areas than in residential areas. The main reason is that in industrially and traffic-developed areas, the atmosphere is polluted by harmful substances such as benzopyrene carcinogenic hydrocarbons produced by the combustion of oil, coal, internal combustion engines, and asphalt road dust. Survey materials show that areas with high concentrations of benzopyrene in the atmosphere also have a higher incidence of lung cancer. Air pollution and smoking may promote each other and play a synergistic role in the incidence of lung cancer.

(III) Occupational factors: In the 1930s, there were reports of a high incidence of lung cancer in the Schneeberg mining area in Europe. After years of investigation and research, it is now generally recognized that long-term exposure to radioactive substances such as uranium and radium and their derivatives, carcinogenic hydrocarbons, arsenic, chromium, nickel, copper, tin, iron, coal tar, asphalt, petroleum, asbestos, mustard gas and other substances can induce lung cancer, mainly squamous cell carcinoma and undifferentiated small cell carcinoma.

(IV) Chronic lung diseases such as tuberculosis, silicosis, and pneumoconiosis can coexist with lung cancer. The incidence of cancer in these cases is higher than that of normal people. In addition, chronic inflammation of the lung bronchi and pulmonary fibrosis and scar lesions may cause squamous metaplasia or hyperplasia during the healing process. On this basis, some cases may develop into cancer.

(V) Human endogenous factors such as family heredity, reduced immune function, metabolic activity, endocrine dysfunction, etc. may also play a certain role in promoting the incidence of lung cancer.

The above is an introduction to the causes of lung cancer. I hope everyone can pay attention to it. If you find any abnormal symptoms in your body, please go to the hospital in time to avoid delaying the disease. If you have any questions related to lung cancer, please consult our online experts, they will give you detailed answers.

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