What exactly causes small cell lung cancer

Small cell lung cancer is a common malignant tumor disease that is on the rise year by year. It has always been an important disease that endangers people's health. Small cell lung cancer is a type of lung cancer, so its manifestations and treatments are also different. So what is the main cause of this disease? Now let us understand what causes small cell lung cancer.

The main cause of small cell lung cancer

1. The relative risk of death from lung cancer for smokers is 12.7%. Those who smoke more than 30 cigarettes a day have a relative risk 22.3 times higher than non-smokers. In 1985, 82% of lung cancer deaths or 31,600 deaths abroad were attributed to smoking. Many epidemiological studies have been conducted on the relationship between smokers and different types of lung cancer at home and abroad. Most of the research results show that smoking is closely related to squamous cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. At the same time, studies have shown that the risk of death from lung cancer can be reduced to the level of non-smokers after quitting smoking for 10-15 years.

2. Environmental tobacco smoke is composed of sidestream smoke released from burning tobacco and smoke exhaled by smokers, which account for 80% and 20% respectively. The smoke inhaled by smokers is called mainstream smoke. ETS contains various toxic substances, including mutagens and carcinogens, such as some chemicals, which are higher in ETS than in mainstream smoke released by burning tobacco. Studies have shown that the level of 4-aminobiphenyl-hemoglobin compounds in passive smokers is approximately equivalent to 14% of that in active smokers. 2-3% of lung cancer diagnosed in smokers and non-smokers each year is caused by ETS.

3. Air pollution refers to the pollution formed by the full dilution of pollutants after they are discharged. With the development of industry, especially the emission of waste gas and gas from cities and factories, the large-scale production and use of various carcinogenic industrial raw materials and products, the carcinogens in the air are increasing; various means of transportation, especially the exhaust gas emitted by cars, and the large-scale use of materials such as asphalt in paving and construction, cause air pollution.

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

Although lung cancer is mainly attributed to smoking in most countries, the risk for men who are already smokers and are exposed to urban air pollution is as high as 10 cases of lung cancer per 100,000 people per year. The results are therefore caused by the interaction of tobacco with chemical compounds in the atmosphere and vary by geographic region and over time.