Now Reading: Lung cancer now a threat to non-smokers too
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Lung cancer now a threat to non-smokers too
Lung cancer among people who have never smoked is now recognised globally as a distinct disease and would rank among the leading causes of cancer deaths if counted separately, Mathrubhumi reports. The…
The Story in Brief
Lung cancer among people who have never smoked is now recognised globally as a distinct disease and would rank among the leading causes of cancer deaths if counted separately, Mathrubhumi reports. The shift means the old assumption that only smokers get lung cancer is dangerously incomplete. Factors such as second-hand smoke, outdoor air pollution, indoor biomass smoke from cooking, occupational exposure to asbestos and diesel exhaust, and inherited genetic mutations are all linked to the disease. Many non-smokers harbour treatable genetic changes, but vague early symptoms like a persistent cough or weight loss are often ignored because the patient does not smoke. The article calls for removing stigma and encouraging timely medical evaluation for everyone, regardless of smoking history.
The Indian Opinion
The stubborn myth that lung cancer is only a smoker’s disease hurts everyone. It delays diagnosis for non-smokers and heaps guilt on smokers who do seek help. Mathrubhumi’s report rightly points out that indoor smoke from chulhas and rising air pollution put millions of Indian women at risk. Instead of blaming patients, the conversation must shift to early testing for all with persistent cough or breathlessness. The real test for Indian healthcare is this: will a non-smoker with a chronic cough now get a CT scan before it is too late?
Source: english.mathrubhumi.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
