It is the number one cancer killer for both men and women in New York. That s because, in the 1960s and 1970s, many more women began to smoke. More men than women still get lung cancer. That is because more men than women smoke. But since women started smoking in larger numbers, more women are getting lung cancer.
Smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer and one that is within our control.
Other studies suggest a link between lung cancer and working with certain chemicals, such as arsenic and chromium. Studies also show a possibility that exposure to silica, substances in foundries, processing coal, and some other chemicals may increase the risk of lung cancer, especially in smokers. An association has also been shown between having a medical history of some lung diseases and getting lung cancer. It means that there is a link between the two, but there is no proof of cause and effect. More research needs to be done before we know for certain.