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Can Smoking Cause Lung Cancer?

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Posted on Thu, 6 Oct 2016
Question: Hey doc ..Good morning.
I smoke about half a pack of smokes a day,I have since stop smoking all together. My reason for doing this is mostly because i went into ER a couple days ago with a blood pressure of 200/120.Longer story short ....I wasn't take my med like i'm suppose too.They also found a microscopic of blood in my urine that possibly have to do with my kidneys. Doc i also have a cough that happens when i wake up in the morning.Doc said their was no cancer in my blood which i guess is a plus,But Doc This has really scared the hack out me to the point i am having Anixity attacks and i think the reason for that is i keep reading all the symptoms of lung cancer and it really got me on edge, Doc i walk everyday,I exercise everyday. Doc i have no health care provider and no means to pay for one.Doc i also have lost weight and that also may be from the stress i have put on myself from worrying.Doc at this point i need some good news about what's going on with me.Doc what are my chances of having lung cancer?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
probably not...

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

although smoking does increase the risk for lung cancer the absolute risk is still low. Smoking causes a lot of health problems, cardiovascular and respiratory mostly and this kind of problems are much more frequent (and lethal) than cancer. I can't say whether you have cancer or not. You'll need radiological tests to find out. Having early morning cough is common for long time smokers (even if you don't smoke right now) because you may already have lung deterioration and some degree of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Cough of new onset requires investigation though and checking for common causes like an acute infection, sinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, etc is required before thinking about cancer. Cancer can be diagnosed with radiological tests starting with a chest X-ray.

So in conclusion, your chances of having lung cancer are statistically low but investigation is required to determine the origin of this cough.

I hope it helps!
Kind Regards!
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3810 Questions

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Can Smoking Cause Lung Cancer?

Brief Answer: probably not... Detailed Answer: Hello, although smoking does increase the risk for lung cancer the absolute risk is still low. Smoking causes a lot of health problems, cardiovascular and respiratory mostly and this kind of problems are much more frequent (and lethal) than cancer. I can't say whether you have cancer or not. You'll need radiological tests to find out. Having early morning cough is common for long time smokers (even if you don't smoke right now) because you may already have lung deterioration and some degree of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cough of new onset requires investigation though and checking for common causes like an acute infection, sinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, etc is required before thinking about cancer. Cancer can be diagnosed with radiological tests starting with a chest X-ray. So in conclusion, your chances of having lung cancer are statistically low but investigation is required to determine the origin of this cough. I hope it helps! Kind Regards!