Can lung cancer be aggressive in non-smokers?

Question

Hello doctor,

My father, 50, has never smoked in his life but was recently diagnosed with lung cancer, and the doctors mentioned it is quite aggressive.

This has made me wonder if a 50-year-old non-smoker gets aggressive lung cancer, because we always thought smoking was the main cause. He had very mild symptoms earlier, which we did not take seriously.

Are there other factors that can lead to such cases?

We are trying to understand how this could happen.

Kindly help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I wish you good health and a speedy recovery for your father.

I want to tell you that many people develop lung cancer even though they have never smoked in their lives, and some are only passive smokers who stay around others who smoke.

Certain occupations also expose people to pollutants such as cotton dust or sprays from materials like wood, iron, or other environmental pollutants, and people working with chemicals.

These can all cause lung irritation and increase the risk of lung cancer. Sometimes it occurs spontaneously without any known factor, and sometimes it occurs due to genetic mutations, especially if there is a family history of lung cancer.

In other cases, mutations can occur without clear risk factors. These are called genetic mutations.

So there are many possible causes of lung cancer. But it is better not to focus too much on the causes and instead focus on the current stage and receiving appropriate treatment.

There is no tumor without treatment. Every type has available therapies, and many options and new medications continue to appear all the time. The ideal treatment plan includes

chemo, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and best supportive care.

I hope my answer is clear to you.

Please do not hesitate to ask any questions at any time.

Thank you.