Cancer Survivorship: Small-Cell Carcinoma

The main risk factors of small-cell carcinoma are smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke, a genetic disposition to lung cancer, air pollution and continuous exposure to air pollution. The chances of developing small-cell carcinoma increase when heavy cigarette or pipe smoking is combined with other factors. Additionally, the longer the period of cigarette smoking, the higher the risk of contracting lung cancer becomes. Old age also increases the risk of developing cancer. In Richard's case, he has been at risk of developing lung cancer because he is 59 years old and has been smoking twenty cigarettes a day for the last forty years. He is, therefore, a long term heavy smoker.