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Lung cancer is often associated with smoking, leading many people to believe that non-smokers are completely free from the disease. However, this common misconception can be dangerous, as it ignores the complex range of factors that contribute to lung cancer development. Lung cancer in non-smokers is often misunderstood, with many assuming that tobacco use is the sole cause of the disease. However, researchers have uncovered several factors that can increase the risk of lung cancer in people who have never smoked, showing that the disease is more complex and multifactorial than previously thought.

The Role of Smoking in Lung Cancer

In a conversation with Jagran English, Dr. Avi Kumar, Senior Consultant, Pulmonology, Fortis Escorts, Okhla Road, New Delhi explained that while smoking remains the leading cause of lung cancer, responsible for approximately 85% of all cases, the disease doesn't exclusively affect smokers. Cigarette smoke contains carcinogens, which can damage the DNA in lung cells and promote the growth of cancerous tumours. However smoking is not the only pathway to lung cancer.

Non-Smoking Related Lung Cancer

Research indicates that a significant number of lung cancer cases occur in people who have never smoked. In fact, around 10-20% of all lung cancer patients in developed countries are non-smokers. Non-smoking-related lung cancer often occurs in younger people, women, and those without a history of tobacco use, pointing to other significant risk factors. 

The risk for cancer is also due to exposure to secondhand smoke which exposes smoking to the smoker's family members who do not smoke. Air pollution is also a leading cause of cancer in non-smokers. There is also a risk of thirdhand smoke exposure these days.

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