Understanding the Origins of Lung Cancer: Causes & Risk Factors

Lung cancer does not have a specific point of origin. Like all cancers, lung cancer begins when healthy cells in the lung undergo genetic changes that cause them to grow and divide uncontrollably. These abnormal cells can form a mass or tumor in the lung tissue. However, the exact cause of these genetic alterations that lead to lung cancer is not fully understood. There are certain risk factors associated with lung cancer, such as tobacco smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke, exposure to certain occupational carcinogens like asbestos and radon, and a family history of lung cancer, but the precise location or starting point of lung cancer cannot be pinpointed.