QUESTION: Does COPD increase my risk of developing lung cancer?
ANSWER: Sadly this is true. We often find lung cancer accidentally when COPD patients develop pneumonia. We do an X-ray and find a lung cancer nodule. These days, a CT scan can pick up lung cancer when it is in early easier to treat stages. COPD is essentially a chronic irritation of the airways—and chronic irritation of anything can lead to cancer.
