Why do people who never smoke get lung cancer?
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While smoking is by far the leading cause of lung cancer, it's important to understand that lung cancer can occur in people who have never smoked. In fact, about 10% to 20% of lung cancer cases in the United States occur in "never smokers" (those who have smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their liRead more
While smoking is by far the leading cause of lung cancer, it’s important to understand that lung cancer can occur in people who have never smoked. In fact, about 10% to 20% of lung cancer cases in the United States occur in “never smokers” (those who have smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime).
See lessHere are the main reasons why people who never smoke can get lung cancer:
* Radon Exposure: Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. It’s invisible, odorless, and tasteless. When radon seeps into homes and buildings through cracks, it can get trapped and build up to dangerous levels. Radon exposure is a significant cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, estimated to contribute to thousands of cases each year.
* Secondhand Smoke: Breathing in smoke from other people’s cigarettes, pipes, or cigars significantly increases the risk of lung cancer in non-smokers. Secondhand smoke contains many of the same harmful chemicals as directly inhaled smoke.
* Air Pollution: Exposure to outdoor air pollution (like diesel exhaust, smog, and fine particulate matter) can damage DNA and increase the risk of lung cancer. While the risk from air pollution may be lower in countries with regulated air quality, it’s still a factor. Indoor air pollution, particularly from the combustion of coal and biomass for cooking or heating in poorly ventilated spaces, is also a known carcinogen.
* Workplace Exposures: Certain occupational exposures to carcinogens can lead to lung cancer. These include:
* Asbestos: Fibers inhaled from asbestos can cause lung damage and cancer (including mesothelioma).
* Arsenic, Chromium, Nickel, Soot, and Tar: Prolonged and repeated exposure to these substances can increase lung cancer risk.
* Diesel Exhaust: Breathing in diesel fumes is also a risk factor.
* Genetics and Family History: Some people inherit genetic mutations from their parents that increase their susceptibility to lung cancer. Additionally, having a close family member (parent, sibling, or child) who had lung cancer, especially if they were also a non-smoker, can increase one’s own risk. People with lung cancer who have never smoked are also more likely to have specific “driver mutations” in their tumors (like EGFR or ALK gene mutations), which can be targeted with specific therapies.
* Other Lung Diseases: Certain chronic lung diseases, such as pulmonary fibrosis (where scar tissue forms on the lungs), can increase the risk of lung cancer.
* Previous Radiation Therapy to the Chest: Individuals who have received radiation therapy to the chest for other cancers are at a higher risk of developing lung cancer later in life.
It’s important to note that sometimes, lung cancer can develop in non-smokers without any identifiable risk factors. This could be due to random cellular mutations that occur over a lifetime or to factors that scientists have not yet fully understood.