Rising Lung Cancer Cases in non-Smokers – Especially Young Women – Demand increased Awareness
Gini’s story is a stark reminder that lung cancer isn’t solely a smoker’s disease. Initially dismissed as discomfort related to breastfeeding, her agonizing shoulder pain ultimately led to a diagnosis of lung cancer, despite never having smoked. And Gini is far from alone.
According to the Ruth Strauss Foundation - a charity established by former England cricket captain Andrew Strauss after the death of his wife from non-smoking lung cancer in 2018 – approximately 7,000 of the 50,000 people diagnosed with lung cancer each year in the UK are non-smokers.
Worryingly, studies indicate that while smoking-related lung cancer cases are declining, diagnoses of the non-smoking form of the disease are increasing. This trend is notably pronounced in women,who account for nearly seven in ten cases of lung cancer in non-smokers. However, a important challenge lies in late detection: estimates suggest around nine out of ten cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, when curative treatment is no longer possible.
Experts attribute this to a prevailing misconception among some GPs that young, healthy individuals like Gini are unlikely to develop lung cancer.
“This rise in cases – particularly in young women usually in their 40s and frequently enough in people of Asian descent – is concerning,” says Professor Hendrik-Tobias Arkenau, a research oncologist at University College London Hospital. “We are not quite sure why we are seeing this rise.”
Professor Arkenau notes that researchers are investigating potential contributing factors,including air pollution and microplastics.
A key risk factor for lung cancer in non-smokers is a mutation in the EGFR gene, which regulates cell growth and division. This mutation, present in nearly a fifth of lung cancer cases in non-smoking women, can trigger uncontrolled growth and tumour formation. These mutations are typically not inherited and frequently enough remain dormant until triggering illness, making pre-emptive identification difficult.
Therefore, awareness of potential symptoms is crucial. Professor Arkenau urges anyone experiencing shoulder pain, unexplained weight loss, a persistent cough lasting more than two months, or coughing up blood to proactively seek medical attention.
“Too often, GPs will not consider lung cancer in young non-smokers, and by the time they are referred on to a specialist, the cancer has metastasised and our options are limited – so it is important to be persistent if you think something is wrong,” he emphasizes.
