That depends— are you a current or former cigarette smoker who has quit within the last 15 years?

Smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer and secondhand smoke can also increase a person’s risk. The risk of lung cancer for smokers is higher than for non-smokers.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people who smoke cigarettes are 15 to 30 times more likely to get lung cancer or die from lung cancer than people who do not smoke.

So why is smoking so bad for your lung health? When cigarette smoke is inhaled, chemicals from the smoke are absorbed in the lungs. The high levels of toxins in tobacco smoke damage tissue and cells.

Genetics may also play a role in your lung health. Those with a family member who has or had lung cancer at one point in time are at a higher risk of developing lung cancer.

In addition to smoking and genetics, adults between the ages of 55 and 77 years old with no known history of lung cancer may be at risk.

Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center is now offering a lung cancer screening for individuals at high risk for developing lung cancer. The screening is simple, effective and can improve the outcome with early diagnosis.

Do you qualify for lung cancer screening? Visit Mountainsidehosp.com/lung or call 973 429-6444 to learn more about Mountainside Medical Center’s Lung Cancer Screening and Lung Nodule Programs.