Lung Cancer โขIncreasinglyโค Affects Non-Smokers,โข Oncologists โคWarn
New Delhi, November 4, 2025 – Lung cancer is no longer solely a disease linked too tobacco use, leading oncologists are emphasizing this awareness month, as rising โฃnumbers of non-smokers are diagnosed with the potentiallyโ deadly illness.While smoking remains the primary risk factor, advancements in detection andโ a โฃgrowing โคunderstanding of โคgenetic predispositions and environmental factors are revealing a significant portion of lung cancer cases now occur in individuals who have never smoked or have quit decades ago. Early detection remains critical for improved survival rates, prompting โcallsโค for increased awareness of subtle symptoms.
Lungโ cancer โis the leading cause of โcancer death worldwide, accounting forโ approximately 1.8 million deaths โin 2020, according to the World Health Organization. Though, the increasingโฃ incidence among non-smokers – estimated to be around 10-20%โ of all lung cancer cases -โ isโ prompting a reevaluation of screening guidelinesโ and โฃdiagnostic approaches.This shift is particularly concerning โคas non-smokers are often diagnosed โat โa later stage,โ when treatment options are more limited. โฃ Experts predict continued increases in non-smoker related cases as environmental โขfactors and genetic vulnerabilities are further understood.
“There’s a hazardous misconception that only smokers โฃget lung cancer,” explains dr. Anjali Sharma, a leading oncologist at โคAll โIndia Institute of Medical sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. “We are seeing aโค growing number of patients who โhave never touched a cigarette, and thier diagnoses are often delayed because neither they nor their doctors initially suspect lung cancer.”
Common early signs of lung cancer, regardless of smokingโ history, โinclude a โขpersistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, โขcoughing up blood, and unexplained โweightโ loss. Fatigue and recurrent respiratory infections can also beโฃ indicators. Oncologistsโฃ stress that any new orโฃ worsening respiratory symptom should be promptly evaluatedโค byโฃ a medical professional.
Genetic mutations, particularly in the โEGFR gene,โ are more common in lung cancers found in non-smokers. โขThese mutations often respond wellโข to targeted therapies, highlighting the importance of comprehensive genomic testing upon diagnosis. Exposure to โradon gas, โขair pollution,โ and asbestos are also โrecognized โrisk โfactors for lung cancer in non-smokers.
This โขLung Cancer Awareness Month, medical โprofessionals are urgingโ the publicโข to prioritize lung health and advocate for increased research funding to better understand and combat this evolving disease. Early detection through low-dose CT scans, particularly forโข high-risk individuals,โ is proving to be a vital โขtool in improving outcomes.
