Guest Commentary | How to keep your lungs healthy

Lung cancer kills more men and women each year in the United States than any other cancer. To lessen your risk of getting the disease, taking steps to quit any nicotine habit will make an impact. With so many new products available, it's important to know the risks associated with smoking, vaping and other nicotine options, as well as the impact of family history and how to ensure early detection.

Are all tobacco products the same?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly nine out of 10 lung cancers are caused by smoking cigarettes. Those who are exposed to secondhand smoke also raise their risk of getting lung cancer by 20% to 30%.

Smoking is one of the most common ways to put nicotine into your body, however, there are a handful of other nicotine products available as well, many of which advertise appealing flavors to teenagers and young adults. They include:

• Vaping E-cigarettes

• Using smokeless tobacco pouches

• Chewing tobacco

• Nicotine gum

• Nicotine patches

There are thousands of chemicals in cigarette smoke and many of them are carcinogens. The human body can work to detoxify and get rid of carcinogens, but when it's unable to do so, leftover carcinogens can cause cells in the body to mutate, and sometimes transform into cancerous cells.

The more smoke that's inhaled or put into the body, the more chance there is for these mutations to develop. If someone smokes frequently for a long period of time, they will have a higher risk of developing lung cancer. However, there are other risk factors.

Many of the carcinogens that are in cigarette smoke are found in vape smoke; however, there is not enough research on the newer product to directly explain long-term risks. Additionally, vape smoke can also contain food-grade flavorings, aldehydes that can cause heart and lung disease, and other possible chemicals like metals.

The most impactful way to decrease the risk of developing lung cancer is to stop smoking completely.

Stopping the use of nicotine products can be made easier with the help of a support group and the support of family and friends.

What are the risk factors for lung cancer?

Smoking and the use of other nicotine products is the number one cause of lung cancer. Radon is the second-leading cause of the disease. Radon is a gas that forms naturally in rocks, soil and water and it cannot be seen, tasted or smelled. It can get through cracks or holes and become trapped and built up in the air. Tests can be done to see if radon is in a home or building.

The risk of lung cancer from radon exposure is higher for smokers compared to nonsmokers. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year and only about 14% of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked.

Breathing in other substances, such as asbestos, arsenic, diesel exhaust and some forms of silica and chromium can also put you at risk over time for developing lung cancer.

Family history of lung cancer

While nicotine products increase the risk of developing lung cancer, it is also at risk of being higher if your parents, brothers, sisters or children have had lung cancer.

It's also important for survivors of lung cancer to know that there is a chance that lung cancer can return if you do not quit smoking.

How can I get screened for lung cancer?

It's recommended to get screened before age 50 if you have a family history of lung cancer. The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends yearly lung cancer screening with a low dose computed tomography (CT scan) if you:

• Smoke 20 packs of cigarettes a year

• Smoke now or have quit within the past 15 years

• Are between 50 and 80 years old

If you meet any of these requirements or if you'd like more information, please contact your primary care provider. For more information, visit www.leehealth.org.

Advances in lung cancer detection

Lee Health has added the ION robotic-assisted bronchoscopy platform to its robotics program to help physicians detect lung cancer much earlier than with traditional methods. Additionally, it has launched the Advanced Lung Care Center, where patients can receive both lung cancer screenings and follow-ups for abnormal imaging findings to expedite their care.

So far this year, the ION robotic-assisted bronchoscopy platform has supported physicians in performing 532 biopsies. Since its inception nearly two years ago, Lee Health physicians have completed over 800 biopsies.

The robotic-assisted lung biopsy is conducted by a physician using the ION platform to navigate the path to the abnormality. As the guided catheter approaches the abnormal area, the physician can confirm its location with a CT scan during the procedure. This allows for a highly precise biopsy. This technology has proven to be safer and better tolerated than traditional approaches.

Detecting lung cancer early offers patients a much greater chance of survival and more effective treatment options. Both the Advanced Lung Care Center and robotic-assisted bronchoscopy support Lee Health's commitment to the well-being of our community.

Lung cancer symptoms

Unfortunately, lung cancer is a silent disease in many patients. Therefore, knowing your risk factors and getting the appropriate screening if you meet the criteria is of the utmost importance. Some of the symptoms of later stage lung cancer can include:

• Coughing up blood or rust-colored spit or phlegm

• A cough that doesn't go away and is getting worse

• Hoarseness

• Chest pain that is worse with deep breathing, coughing or laughing

• Unexplained weight loss

• Loss of appetite

• Feeling tired or weak

• Shortness of breath

• Infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia that don't go away or keep coming back

• New onset of wheezing

If you're experiencing any of the above symptoms, it's important to talk with your doctor and plan a screening to find out what is causing the symptoms.

National Lung Cancer Screening Day

Lee Health Advanced Lung Care Center is hosting a community event on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Outpatient Center at the Sanctuary, 8960 Colonial Center Drive, in Fort Myers. Those interested in attending must be prescreened before Nov. 9 and be 50-80 years old, smoke 20 packs of cigarettes a year or have quit smoking within the past 15 years.

To register, please visit www.LeeHealth.org/Lung-Cancer-Screening and complete the "Schedule a Screening" questionnaire on the right-hand side of the webpage. Our team will contact you to schedule a visit to complete a health history and discuss lung cancer screening — this can be an "in person" or telehealth visit.

You can call the Advanced Lung Care Center to schedule a lung cancer screening visit at 239-468-8078.

If you have medical questions about lung cancer screenings, please call 239-343-5864 (LUNG).

Dr. Shyam Kapadia is a pulmonologist and Medical Director at Lee Health Advanced Lung Care Center.