4 Common Questions About Lung Cancer Screenings

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. In fact, more people die every year from lung cancer than colon, breast and prostate cancers combined.

J. Tyler Van Backer, MD, thoracic surgeon with the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute at The Hospital of Central Connecticut, answers four common questions about lung cancer screenings.
Can non-smokers get lung cancer?

“Traditionally, we think that only smokers are diagnosed with lung cancer, but that’s not true,” says Dr. Van Backer. “About 10 to 20 percent of people diagnosed with lung cancer were not smokers. Exposure to second-hand smoke, asbestos, diesel exhaust and radon can increase a person’s risk for lung cancer.”

Click HERE to learn about what symptoms to look out for.