비 흡연가들의 페암 원인: Lung cancer in non-smokers -간접흡연의 위험성 경고!!!!

Lung cancer in non-smokers

By Yoon Ja-young

It is well known that smoking increases the risk of lung cancer, by up to 80 times according to some research. However, some non-smokers also fall victim to lung cancer.

According to the Dongnam Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, around 20,000 people get lung cancer in Korea every year. Among them, around 15 percent are non-smokers. It added that the ratio of non-smoking lung cancer patients in the United States is similar to that of Korea.

Then why do those non-smokers get lung cancer? “There are environmental factors such as second-hand smoking, diesel exhaust, radon, asbestos, nutrition deficiency or lack of exercise, and genetic factors such as family history,” said Prof. Kim Joo-hyeon at the lung cancer center of the Dongnam Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences.

The biggest risk factor is secondhand smoking(가장 위험한 요소는 간접흡연이다). According to the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, females whose husband smokes have twice the risk of lung cancer than wives of non-smokers(여성들중에 남편이 담대를 피울경우 피우지 않는 남편의 부인들보다 폐암에 걸린 확률이 2배나 높다). The risk more than triples for those whose husbands have smoked for more than 30 years. Some research suggests that secondhand smoking is more harmful than direct smoking.

Family history also matters. Those who had a lung cancer patient in the family have a higher risk. The workplace where one is exposed to carcinogens and pollution also cause lung cancer in non-smokers.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also picks radon as cause of lung cancer. The Environment Protection Agency in the United States says radon is responsible for 20,000 lung cancer deaths a year.

“Radon is a gas without color, smell, or taste, which occurs naturally from radioactive decay of uranium in rocks. It exists everywhere, and leaks into basements of buildings. It is advised that people do ventilation at least three times a day,” said Prof. Yang Kwang-mo, head of the research center at the Dongnam Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences.

For the prevention of lung cancer, Prof. Kim stressed that quitting smoking is crucial. “About 80 to 90 percent of lung cancer can be prevented by quitting smoking(80-90%의 페암은 금연을 통해 예방할수 있다). In the case of non-smokers, it is important to avoid passive smoking,” he said.

“Avoid exposure to environmental harm, and ventilate often when cooking. Appropriate exercise and abundant vegetable and fruits in the diet are also helpful in the prevention of lung cancer,” he added.

He added that while this is the most common cancer among Korean males aged 65 or older, the survival rate is only around 20 percent(폐암은 한국 성인 65세 이상 남성중에서 가장 흔한 암이며, 생존률은 약20%라고한다). “Early diagnosis is the best way to increase the survival rate,” he said.

The professor thus recommended that those who are 55 or older, have smoked for more than 30 years, or have been exposed to environmental harm should consider getting low dose chest CT.

yjy@koreatimes.co.kr,