ABP LIVE Doc Talk | Lung Cancer In Non-Smokers: What Are The Hidden Risk Factors?

There are Occurences of a few cases in our clinical practice when we have encountered the disease in young non-smokers also. It highlights the fact that Lung cancer is no longer a smoker's disease. In this article, we analyse the non-smoking causes of Lung cancer.

Lung Cancer In Non-Smokers

The incidence of lung cancer is rising globally as well as in India, and it is the leading cause of cancer mortality and morbidity worldwide.  About  2.5 million people ( both men and women) were diagnosed with lung cancer annually worldwide in 2022, accounting for an age-adjusted standardized ratio of approximately 24 cases per 100,000 people.

There has been a marked change in aetiology and patterns of this cancer in the last few decades. It has been observed that lung cancer incidence in males has decreased in the majority of countries during the past 3-4 decades, while incidence is rising among ladies. This brings us to the point: Is smoking the only cause of Lung Cancer? The most debatable point is whether lung cancer can be called a smoker’s disease. The answer is that we can not blame smoking entirely for Lung cancer because other non-smoking factors are responsible for this disease. So let us know what the other factors are responsible for this deadly disease.

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Pollution And Other Environmental Risks

Indian metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata, people are exposed to Pollution and other toxic substances in the air which are responsible for the increased incidence of Lung cancer.  Indoor biomass smoke has been identified as one of the other causative agents of lung cancer, which may eliminate the sole idea of Lung cancer caused by smoking only, particularly in household ladies. This kind of demographic profile of disease has forced clinicians to put a considerable risk of suspicion for non-smoker personnel, particularly ladies.

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How Non-Smokers Can Lower Their Risk

As an Oncologist Non Smokers who get lung cancer ask me” Doctor, how can I lower my Lung cancer risk when I do not smoke?” My answer is: You can help lower your risk of lung cancer by staying away from secondhand smoke, diesel exhaust, and other air pollution, as well as asbestos, arsenic, and some forms of silica and chromium. You should avoid places with suspicious high Radon gas levels: 
 Lung cancer in India is not only caused by tobacco smoking but also by other factors like indoor biomass exposure, environmental pollution, asbestos, and silica exposure. We come across so many young non-smokers who suffer from this disease. These facts point out that lung cancer is not related to smoking entirely but is caused by other non-smoking factors. In India, some of the studies have shown that in 35- 40% of cases, the disease is not related to smoking alone. Besides environmental factors, genetic susceptibility also needs consideration.

Disclaimer: The information provided in the article is shared by experts and is intended for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition