Why do 20% of lung cancer patients never smoke at all?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 55-year-old woman trying to understand my risk. I read that 20 percent of lung cancer patients never smoke.

Why do 20 percent of lung cancer patients never smoke at all?
In simple words, what causes cancer in these patients, and does it behave differently from smoking-related lung cancers?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have gone through your query and understand your concern.

That is a very valid question, and many people get confused about this.

When we say that some patients with lung cancer never smoked, it simply means that smoking is not the only cause. In simple terms, the lungs can be affected over time by other things as well. Long-term exposure to second-hand smoke, indoor pollution from cooking, poor air quality, and certain natural gases like radon can slowly damage the lung cells.

In some people, these changes happen quietly over the years. And in a few cases, it can occur even without a clear reason, just due to changes in the body with age.

In people who have never smoked, the cancer is often a type that grows a bit more quietly. Because of that, symptoms may not appear early, and it may be found on a scan done for some other reason.

One thing we do see is that these cancers often have specific changes in them, and because of that, we sometimes have better treatment options like targeted tablets, which can work well and are easier to tolerate in many patients.

So, in simple words, even without smoking, long-term exposures and natural changes in the body can lead to cancer, and in some ways, these cancers can behave a little differently and sometimes respond better to certain treatments.

I hope I have answered your question.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Thank you.