Lung Cancer Among People Who Never Smoked In Their Lifetime

In the past, scientists and the public typically associated lung cancer with smoking. But we now know that 10-25% of lung cancer cases involve patients who have never smoked. In certain groups of Asian and Asian Americans, that number can be as high as 50%. This has led researchers to investigate other causes of lung cancer, including the environment, like air pollution, and genetic mutations.

Because medical professionals are alerted to look for lung cancer in smokers, many cases are not discovered until the cancer is advanced. Screening for lung cancer may need to change to include these cases not related to smoking. Thankfully, new screening methods are being considered. In addition, the survival rate for advanced cancers is much better due to advancements in therapies.

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Sources: New York Times