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There are several things that make it more likely that you will get lung cancer. Doctors call these things risk factors. Here's a list of risk factors for lung cancer. Click on the links for more information.^{1 2}

• Smoking (by far the most common cause)
• Being of a certain ethnic group
• Being older
• Working in certain industries
• Living with radon
• Living with air pollution
• Having other lung diseases
• Having lung cancer in your family

If you think you have a high risk of getting lung cancer, you may wonder if there is some way of being tested that would catch lung cancer early, before it grows. This kind of test is called screening, but so far it hasn't been very successful for finding lung cancer.

To find out more, see Can I be screened for lung cancer?

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.