New research shows that many cases of cancer and resulting deaths could have been prevented if Americans modified some of their unhealthy lifestyle habits.

A study conducted in 2019 and recently published in the American Cancer Society (ASC) Journals evaluated 18 modifiable risk factors (in adults 30 years and older) and their effects on 30 different forms of cancer, such as lung cancer, something that our team of thoracic surgeons treat here at CTVS.

Some of the risk factors that were studied include:

  • Cigarette smoking
  • Excess body weight
  • Consumption of red and processed meats
  • Low consumption of fruits, vegetables and fiber
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Physical inactivity
  • Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation

Results show that these ‘risky’ lifestyle factors contributed to more than 700,000 new cancer cases and more than 262,000 related deaths. Experts say this evidence approximates that roughly 40% of all newly diagnosed cancer cases (in those 30 years and older) could have been prevented.

The leading risk factor linked to cancer, by far, was smoking, accounting for nearly one in five of all new cancer cases and a third of all cancer deaths.

Smoking is the main risk factor associated with lung cancer. Lung cancer is also the leading cause of all cancer deaths in the United States.

However, as soon as you stop smoking, your body begins to immediately heal from the tobacco toxins, and in as little as two weeks after your last cigarette, research shows that your lung function increases.

At CTVS, we know that the best chance for survival and beating lung cancer is early detection and swift treatment.

Common symptoms that may indicate you have lung cancer include excessive coughing, a bloody cough, chest pain, and unexplained weight loss.

If you experience any of these symptoms, and especially if you have a history of smoking, our thoracic specialists urge you to get screened for lung cancer right away.

Who should get screened for lung cancer?

Our CTVS thoracic surgeons support the American Cancer Society guidelines that recommend annual lung cancer screenings for everyone 50 to 80 years old who smokes or has previously smoked and had at least a 20-pack per year history. Screenings are typically done via CT Scan which remains the best method for detecting lung cancer.

How is lung cancer treated?

At CTVS, we use minimally-invasive and robotic-assisted surgical procedures to remove the cancerous nodules and tumors from the lungs. In some cases, radiation or chemotherapy may be needed following surgery to further ensure a successful outcome. More about the surgical treatment of lung cancer can be found here.

For questions about any of our vascular, cardiac, or thoracic services, please visit ctvstexas.com or call us at (512) 459-8753 to schedule an appointment.

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