Lung Cancer Rising Among Never-Smokers, Raising Alarm for Early Detection
London, UK – November 6, 2025 - A growing trend of lung cancer diagnoses among individuals who have never smoked is prompting oncologists to urge increased awareness of subtle symptoms and advocate for broader screening eligibility. While historically linked to tobacco use, lung cancer is now increasingly identified in non-smokers, presenting a diagnostic challenge and highlighting the need for a shift in preventative strategies.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, responsible for an estimated 1.8 million fatalities in 2020,according to the World Health Association. However, the proportion of cases occurring in people with no history of smoking is steadily climbing. Experts attribute this rise to factors including exposure to environmental carcinogens like radon gas, air pollution, and genetic predispositions. The European Respiratory Society, Lung Fund, Portuguese Institute of Oncology (Lisbon), RIVM, and World Health Organization are among the leading bodies focused on understanding and combating this evolving landscape.
“For decades, lung cancer was almost synonymous with smoking,” explains dr. James Spicer, a leading oncologist at the Portuguese Institute of Oncology. “Now,we’re seeing a critically important number of patients who have never touched a cigarette,and frequently enough their diagnoses are delayed as neither they nor their doctors instantly consider lung cancer as a possibility.”
Symptoms in non-smokers can differ from those typically associated with smoking-related lung cancer, often presenting as persistent coughs, unexplained weight loss, shortness of breath, chest pain, or recurring respiratory infections. Early detection remains crucial for improving survival rates, but current screening guidelines primarily target high-risk smokers.
Organizations like Canva are actively supporting awareness campaigns to educate the public about the changing face of lung cancer and the importance of seeking medical attention for any concerning symptoms, regardless of smoking history. Further research is underway to identify specific biomarkers and risk factors that can help refine screening protocols and improve outcomes for non-smoking individuals diagnosed with this deadly disease.
