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This question was answered on Sun 03, Feb 2008 11:37am by bobby s, md

I am coughing often but never smoked -- do I need to be checked for lunc cancer?


    
Asked by bru61 (Male ) on Sat 02, Feb 2008 03:47pm

I am a 41 year old healthy non smoker (well.. I am smoking a cigar every month but that's it) but I find myself coughing fairly often... I dont seem to have pneumonia or anything like that. Should I be worried about lung cancer? Should I get tested? Nobody in my familly had lung cancer and my parents were non-smokers as well.

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Answer by bobby s, md  on Sun 03, Feb 2008 11:37am:

For a healthy, occasional smoker, the mere presence of dry cough is not enough to suggest lung cancer. There could be many causes of your symptoms, including allergy, asthma, infections, or connective tissue disorders, and also cancer. However, since the cough has persisted, you need to see your doctor and undergo a physical examination and some tests, including pulmonary function tests and a chest x-ray. Quitting your monthly cigar smoking habit may also help improve your symptoms.

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Follow up:

Clarification by bru61 on Sun 03, Feb 2008 08:23pm:
Thanks.  Could you please elaborate about whether smoking a cigar every month increases your risk of
developping lung cancer?   Have there been studies indicating that this might be the case.  What is your
personal opinion.  I enjoy my once-a-month habig but will give it up if there is a reasonble risk
(statistically significant)?  Thanks in advance

Comments:

Comment by Dr Bobby V, MD on Sat 16, Feb 2008 09:18am: Hi, There is no concrete data available in literature which quantifies the risk associated with occasional smoking. Once-a-month smoking probably will not lead to cancer, but your chronic cough may benefit if you stop smoking completely.
Comment by Doris on Fri 03, Dec 2010 07:13pm: The doctor said i have a nodule on my lung, does that mean cancer

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