Q: i smoked as a teen but quit at age 23, i am now 61 and i worry all the time about lung cancer.... is it a good idea to get screened? am i at a high risk?

: Lung cancer risk in smokers declines by 40% by 5 years they stop smoking. The risk never declines to that of non-smokers, but after nearly 40 years your risk is very low. Discuss with your doctor. This website can help you evaluate your statistical risk: https://www.oncolink.org/risk-and-prevention/smoking-tobacco-and-cancer/former-smokers-and-cancer-risk

Q: what is the avg age of throat or lung cancer? can you get this at 38 or would it be at a later age?

Yes: The median age for lung ca is 72. This not the avg. It the point where 1/2 are younger and 1/2 are older. The risk of lung ca in 30's is 1.3%. The median age for laryngeal ca is 63. However the number of patients developing. Ca really spikes up at 45 yrs and older. So lung ca at 38 fairly unlikely but laryngeal ca is possible.

Q: my dad was diagnosed and died at age 80 with metastatic liver/lung cancer. will i get it too?

NO: There may be some genetic association with some cancers (eg Breast, Colon) but modern day SCREENING has all but eliminated the possibility of dying from these diesases (they are "caught" PRIOR to metastasizing (spreading)! Hope this is helpful Dr Z

Question 1

at what age can you get lung cancer? can you have it at the age of 20?

Accepted Answer

Mainly in older peop: There is no specific age in lung cancer, yes it is possible at age 20, but extremely rare, it can happen even in people who never smoked. However the majority of lung cancer patients are in their 50s and older, and the longer the history of smoking, the higher the risk. There are multiple research projects going on to try to identify genetic/hereditary factors.

Question 2

is it true that it's rare to get lung cancer at an early age?

Accepted Answer

Yes: "...The average age at which lung cancer is diagnosed is 71, with less than 3% of lung cancers diagnosed under the age of 45. That said, lung cancer does occur in young adults and even children..."
http://goo.Gl/k6aex
and
http://goo.Gl/5mixx.

Question 3

could you tell me what gender and age group are more likely to get lung cancer?

Accepted Answer

Older smokers...: Historically, men were more likely to develop lung cancer, but as more women began to smoke tobacco, the incicence of lung cancer in women has increased.  Now lung cancer is the #1 cancer killer of both men and women in the United States.  In my practice, the vast majority of patients with lung cancer are in their 50s and older.  In rare instances, i see patients in their 40s and 30s.

Question 4

i am just curious about what are the first symptoms of lung cancer, how long does it take a smoker to get it and what is the average age of diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

None: Early stage lung cancers do not have any symptoms there is no accepted mass screening test for eararly detection low yield do not justify mass screening with spiral ct scans , smoking is a convincing cause, some lucky ones may escape, but you can't predict who will get and who will not get , and how long you need to smoke to get lung cancer.

Question 5

what are the possibilities for a 20 year old to get lung cancer ? i mean is it possible at such a young age ?

Accepted Answer

Not much: Cancer of lung at the age of 20 is very rare. If you are afraid of getting lung cancer don't smoke , don't get exposed to toxic chemicals including second hand smoke , have clean habits, then you will reduce the incidence in later years of your life. Who knows 30 yrs from now when you are 50 there may be even cure good luck in your life.

Question 6

can a perosn at the age of 51 get lung cancer if he/she was a heavy drinker and smoker?

Accepted Answer

YES: Yes absolutely. Not only lung cancer, that person also will be at high risk to develop other smoking/alcohol related cancer ( head and neck cancer, esophageal cancer, bladder cancer etc)  as well as other related serious disease- such as liver cirrhosis, emphysema/ COPD etc. 
Please tell that person to quit smoking and alcohol.

Question 7

im a social smoker since age 20. now im age 29 and just recently decide to quit smoking. any chance i will still get lung cancer?

Accepted Answer

If you quit: And do not relapse, and social smoking was < pack/day, you have risk that diminishes over years of not smoking.  You are making a wise choice, stick to it, get help if you are failing.

Question 8

i smoked as a teen but quit at age 23, i am now 61 and i worry all the time about lung cancer.... is it a good idea to get screened? am i at a high risk?

Accepted Answer

: Lung cancer risk in smokers declines by 40% by 5 years they stop smoking. The risk never declines to that of non-smokers, but after nearly 40 years your risk is very low. Discuss with your doctor. This website can help you evaluate your statistical risk:  https://www.oncolink.org/risk-and-prevention/smoking-tobacco-and-cancer/former-smokers-and-cancer-risk

Question 9

what is the avg age of throat or lung cancer? can you get this at 38 or would it be at a later age?

Accepted Answer

Yes: The median age for lung ca is 72. This not the avg. It the point where 1/2 are younger and 1/2 are older. The risk of lung ca in 30's is 1.3%. The median age for laryngeal ca is  63. However the number of patients developing. Ca really spikes up at 45 yrs and older. So lung ca at 38 fairly unlikely but laryngeal ca is possible.

Question 10

my dad was diagnosed and died at age 80 with metastatic liver/lung cancer. will i get it too?

Accepted Answer

NO: There may be some genetic association with some cancers (eg Breast, Colon) but modern day SCREENING has all but eliminated the possibility of dying from these diesases (they are "caught" PRIOR to metastasizing (spreading)!
Hope this is helpful
Dr Z

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Doctor answers about:

At what age can you get lung cancer

A member asked:

At what age can you get lung cancer? can you have it at the age of 20?

A member asked:

Is it true that it's rare to get lung cancer at an early age?

A member asked:

Could you tell me what gender and age group are more likely to get lung cancer?

A member asked:

I am just curious about what are the first symptoms of lung cancer, how long does it take a smoker to get it and what is the average age of diagnosis?

A member asked:

What are the possibilities for a 20 year old to get lung cancer ? i mean is it possible at such a young age ?

A member asked:

Can a perosn at the age of 51 get lung cancer if he/she was a heavy drinker and smoker?

A member asked:

Im a social smoker since age 20. now im age 29 and just recently decide to quit smoking. any chance i will still get lung cancer?

A member asked:

I smoked as a teen but quit at age 23, i am now 61 and i worry all the time about lung cancer.... is it a good idea to get screened? am i at a high risk?

A member asked:

What is the avg age of throat or lung cancer? can you get this at 38 or would it be at a later age?

A member asked:

My dad was diagnosed and died at age 80 with metastatic liver/lung cancer. will i get it too?

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