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Lung cancer
There are several types of lung cancer which are named after the type of cell involved. Tobacco smoking is the major cause of lung cancer. Over 75% and possibly as much as 90% of all lung cancer can be attributed to smoking.
Lung cancer is most common in adults aged between 40 and 70 years who have smoked for around 20 years. If smoking started in teenage years, the risk of developing lung cancer is 2-3 times greater.
The most important way to reduce your risk of lung cancer is to stop smoking. Help is available from the Quitline 13 7848, your doctor or pharmacist.
 Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death amongst men and the second most common cause of cancer death amongst women. This is because of a rise in the number of women diagnosed and dying from lung cancer due to increased smoking rates among women over recent decades. Early lung cancers are often found by chance as a result of tests for other unrelated medical conditions. Signs and symptoms of lung cancer usually occur when the disease is at an advanced stage.
See your doctor if you have
 a persistent cough or a change in a chronic cough shortness of breath blood stained sputum (phlegm) chest pain, often made worse by deep breathing bouts of pneumonia or bronchitis.Find out more Quit SA - for help to quit smoking
Cancerbackup UK - go to Cancer type
CancerNet - see cancer types
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