Lung cancer isn't just for smokers: Time to rethink what you know

Lung cancer is also among the most prevalent and critical forms of cancer globally. Lung cancer was initially recognized as a smoker's disease for many decades, but physicians are currently observing more lung cancer in non-smokers, women, and young adults. Since there is increased awareness of lung cancer, some myths concerning lung cancer have prevailed, and many individuals have avoided or delayed lung cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Five such prevailing myths regarding lung cancer and the facts that busted the myths are given below:

Myth 1: Only smokers develop lung cancer
Fact: Smoking is a primary cause of lung cancer but non-smokers are not off the hook either. Fact is that more and more people developing lung cancer never smoked. Air pollution, secondhand smoke exposure, indoor cooking smoke, genetics, and chemical exposures (such as asbestos and diesel exhaust) are all established risk factors for lung cancer. Even if you don't smoke, you have cause to worry about your lungs.

Myth 2: Lung cancer is for old folks
Fact: Lung cancer risk does accompany growing older, but this doesn't imply that only older people are prone to it. Even individuals as young as their 30s, and sometimes even teens, have been diagnosed with lung cancer, particularly if pollution is a factor or an individual has a family history. Increasing numbers of young, nonsmoking Indians- especially women -are being diagnosed with lung cancer today than at any other time in history. This is a time when not any single warning sign concerning lung cancer, or other lung problems, such as coughing, chest pain, and shortness of breath, at any age, should go unnoticed.

Myth 3: If I am not symptomatic then my lungs are healthy.
Fact: Lung cancer has been described as a "silent killer"- that is, there are not necessarily any early obvious symptoms in the progression of disease. By the time you have symptoms, for instance bloodless or extreme breathlessness, the cancer can already be advanced. Thus, if you are "high risk" like a lifetime smoker or someone with heavy air polluted lifestyle, you should take a visit to your physician and if possible get screened, such as through a low dose CT scan.

Myth 4: Lung cancer is not successfully treatable
Truth: This is so old-fashioned thinking. Due to medical science's advances, we have many patients with lung cancer now living healthier and longer lives. We now have targeted therapy, immunotherapy, complex surgery, and radiation that were unknown a decade back! Stage 4 lung cancer can be controlled for several years with treatment. While early diagnosis gives the best chance for a good outcome, hope remains.

Myth 5: Only men get lung cancer
Truth: Lung cancer is not gender-specific. In fact, now, we have more and more non-smoking exposed women who have lung cancer, especially in urban areas with so much air pollution and a lot of bad indoor air quality. And women are more likely to suffer from cooking fume exposure in countries with poor ventilation in kitchens. Such knowledge is important to women in particular. Women may have difficulty recognizing the severity of their symptoms if there is no mental association of their health condition as something serious like lung cancer.

Lung cancer is no longer a smoking disease, or a disease of old people. Lung cancer can affect anyone - at any age and anyone. The silver lining is that with early diagnosis and current treatment, more lives than ever before are being saved.
If you have a persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath or mysterious tiredness - don't brush it off. Have it investigated by your doctor, particularly if you reside in a region with high levels of pollution or have a documented exposure to smoke or chemicals.

No more myths are needed to do the damage the disease itself does.

Dr. C N Patil, HOD and Lead Consultant - Medical Oncology & Haemato-Oncology, Aster Whitefield Hospital, Bengaluru