Usually, the occasional cough turns out to be nothing serious. But, if you have been putting up with a dry cough for more than a few weeks, it may be time to see your doctor. While chronic coughing often is a symptom of a condition such as allergies or bronchitis, it also is one of the warning signs of a killer disease: lung cancer.

Who Is At Risk?
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among both men and women in the United States. According to Dr. Peter Locken, radiation oncologist at Western Baptist Hospital, up to 90 percent of all lung cancers are thought to result from smoking. Daily cigarette and cigar smoking greatly increases lung cancer risk. In addition, nonsmokers who are frequently exposed to the smoke of others face an increased risk. Other risk factors may include exposure to radon or asbestos, lung scarring as a result of tuberculosis or pneumonia, and a family history of lung cancer.

Lung Cancer Prevention
Lung cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. Because smoking is its main cause, the best way to prevent lung cancer is simply to stay away from smoke. “Even if you have smoked for decades, stopping now can greatly reduce your risk of developing lung cancer, and will improve your chances of living longer,” says Dr. Locken.

The Importance of Early Detection
As with other types of cancer, early detection increases a patient’s chance of survival. Unfortunately, lung cancer is difficult to detect in its earliest stages and it often is not discovered until it has spread to other tissues or organs.
Dr. Locken recommends contacting your physician if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• A cough that does not go away
• Chest pain
• Hoarseness
• Weight loss and loss of appetite
• Bloody or rust-colored spit or phlegm
• Shortness of breath
• Fever without a known cause
• Recurring infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia