World Lung Cancer Day is observed on August 1st, a day to raise awareness about the leading cause of cancer death in the US. While the number of new lung cancer cases decreases due to fewer smokers, rates are increasing among non-smoker groups.
Randi Marcus, a 65-year-old woman who never smoked before her diagnosis, attributes her cancer to an “incidental finding” made during a routine calcium check. Her doctor spotted something on her lung, leading to surgery 10 days later.
Dr. Andrew Kaufman, Vice Chairman of Thoracic Surgery at Mount Sinai Health System, notes that non-smoking lung cancer has distinct genetic changes compared to smoking-related cases. The main driver for Asian women is the non-inherited EGFR gene mutation.
Marcus credits her early detection with a good outcome: surgery removed the tumor and part of her lung, allowing her to avoid further treatment. She emphasizes the importance of raising awareness, especially among younger women who may not be aware of their own risk factors.
Source: https://www.news9.com/story/688d030c1be3ad38ff1d9dca/rates-of-lung-cancer-increasing-among-non-smokers-experts-say