Lung cancer can develop even in people who do not smoke. Inherited traits, genetic changes and toxic substances in the environment increase the risk of the disease. The issue has come up again since Pope Leo XIV, head of the Catholic Church, was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. The cancer was found when tissue was tested after surgery. He is not known to smoke or to have smoked in the past.
The Vatican said the lower part of the Pope’s right lung was removed in surgery. Tests afterwards found adenocarcinoma.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking is linked to about 80 percent of lung cancer deaths. But non-smokers also get the disease. About 40 percent of lung cancers in the United States are adenocarcinoma, the most common form of the disease among non-smokers.
Risk factors other than smoking
A family history of the disease, rare genetic mutations and exposure to toxic substances such as diesel exhaust and radon can increase the risk of lung cancer. Tobacco products such as pipes and cigars, and heavy cannabis use, are also risk factors.
A study published in the journal Science found a link between a rare genetic mutation called EGFR T790M and the risk of lung cancer. People with the mutation were found to be 25 times more likely to develop the disease than others. Among people who had never smoked, the risk was about 62 times higher.
Symptoms to watch for
Lung cancer often shows no symptoms in its early stages. But anyone with a persistent cough, shortness of breath, blood in the cough, unexplained weight loss or a persistent headache should see a doctor.
Cancer specialist Larry Robinson said the disease is often diagnosed late in non-smokers. As a result, it may have reached an advanced stage by the time treatment begins.
Regular screening is important for detecting lung cancer in people at high risk. In the United States, an annual low-dose CT scan is usually recommended for people aged 50 to 80 who have a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years and who either smoke now or quit within the past 15 years. The test is not needed for everyone, however; people should seek a doctor’s advice based on their own risk.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report