Does an EGFR mutation cause lung cancer in non-smokers?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 29-year-old male and was recently told that my lung cancer might be related to something called an EGFR mutation, even though I have never smoked.

This news has left me very confused and a bit scared because I always believed that lung cancer mainly affects older smokers, not younger people like me.

My doctor mentioned genetic testing, but I do not fully understand how this mutation develops or why it occurs in some people.

Does an EGFR mutation cause lung cancer in young non-smokers?
Is this type of cancer more treatable with targeted therapy?
Also, should my family members be tested for similar genetic changes or an increased risk?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have gone through your query and understand your concern.

I wish you good health and a speedy recovery.

I want to tell you that the cause does not necessarily have to be smoking alone. Sometimes, the cause can be a genetic condition that leads to different types of cancer on its own. That is why genetic testing is very important, because it helps us determine the most suitable treatment plan and identify which type of chemotherapy or targeted treatment the tumor may respond to best.

Tumors vary according to their sensitivity to treatment. Some may have a higher tendency to react to chemotherapy treatment, while others may tend to react to targeted treatment and immunotherapy, based on the particular genetic mutation they have. For instance, if the tumor is EGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) positive, there are specific targeted treatments that work much better for it.

Today, cancer treatment is no longer based only on chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The treatment approach depends on many factors, especially the stage of the disease and the genetic mutations present in the tumor.

I do not know exactly which stage you are in, but regardless of the stage, it is very important to identify the genetic mutations first so we can use medications specifically designed for that type of cancer.

I also want to reassure you that many cancers today can respond well to different treatment modalities, and once the appropriate treatment is selected based on the tumor type and genetic profile, patients can sometimes achieve a very dramatic response to therapy.

I hope I have answered your question.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Thank you.