Alarming rise in lung cancer amongst non-smokers and women

The study discovered that an increasing number of patients treated in the outpatient clinic were nonsmokers of a younger age group. Details of patients who underwent treatment between March 2012 and November 2022 were analysed to assess the demographic details of these patients and chart a trend. A total of 304 patients were analysed retrospectively.
In the study, besides other parameters, the age at presentation, gender, smoking status, stage of disease at the time of diagnosis, and type of lung cancer were recorded and analyzed.
Speaking about the study, the chairman of the Institute of Chest Surgery, Chest Onco-Surgery, and Lung Transplantation at Medanta Hospital Gurugram, Dr. Arvind Kumar, said, “I am shocked at the alarming rise in lung cancer cases and occurrences in younger individuals, non-smokers, and women. Lung cancer is a dreaded disease, with one of the lowest 5-year survival rates.”
Dr. Kumar further stated, “While conventional wisdom says that smoking is the main cause, there is strong evidence now that points to the increasing role of air pollution in the rising incidence of lung cancer.”
Dr. Kumar stated about the Medanta hospital’s lung cancer initiative, “#BeatLungCancer is a humble initiative by Medanta to increase disease awareness, promote screening for early detection, and provide inspiration and support through the stories of strength of other patients.”
According to Dr. Naresh Trehan,“findings of this study, which indicate a rising incidence in previously unaffected population groups, are cause for concern.”