As an oncologist, I’ve seen firsthand the devastating impact of lung cancer on families. Two patients who will always be etched in my mind were a 35-year-old mother of two and a 32-year-old emergency room nurse – both never smokers but diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer. Their stories echo a growing trend: more people, especially young women, are being diagnosed with lung cancer despite never smoking.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in America, claiming about 125,000 lives each year. Despite cutting-edge treatments, the five-year survival rate for patients with metastatic lung disease is only 6%. The rising number of non-smoker diagnoses has raised concerns, and I believe reducing air pollution from fossil fuels is crucial to preventing future cases.
Air pollution is a Class 1 carcinogen, responsible for about 14% of all lung cancer deaths. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from burning fossil fuels can cause lung cancer in non-smokers and worsen treatment outcomes for other cancer patients. The recent delay in retiring coal plants and the proposal for new methane gas plants in Wisconsin are concerning.
Marketing natural gas as a safe alternative to coal has been misleading, just like the vaping industry’s claims about e-cigarettes being healthier than smoking. Gas plants emit hazardous pollutants that can cause cardiovascular injuries and harm the environment. We need to reduce air pollution and decrease fossil fuels to maintain a livable climate. Wisconsin must not get left behind; we need to prevent more needless deaths from lung cancer by ensuring new gas plants are not built in our state.
Source: https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2025/01/30/clean-energy-is-key-to-reducing-lung-cancer-deaths