Lung cancer rising among young non-smoking women

HEMA SINGULURI | Hyderabad 

One may call it the new face of cancer. Non-smoking women too are affected by the deadly disease. There is a growing number of cases among young, urban women who have never smoked, say doctors. Specialists attribute worsening air pollution, passive smoking and environmental exposures as the main culprits. Early diagnosis has become even more important. 

Dr. Sravan Dubasi, Consultant Medical Oncologist at Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, said lung cancer can no longer be viewed as a disease affecting only smokers or the elderly. While smoking remains the biggest risk factor, he said long-term exposure to air pollution, indoor pollutants, second-hand smoke, occupational hazards and genetic predisposition are increasingly contributing to cases among non-smokers. exposure to PM2.5 pollution may be driving this trend.

Dr. Dubasi, noted that recent research has also explored the presence of microplastics in the bloodstream, although their exact role in lung cancer continues to be studied. Workers in industries where substances such as talcum powder are regularly inhaled may also face occupational risks, he added.

Early diagnosis saves lives

Dr. Sravan Dubasi urged people not to ignore a persistent cough, weight loss, chest pain, breathlessness or coughing up blood, stressing that early-stage lung cancer is often treatable. While routine screening targets high-risk smokers, AI-supported low-dose CT scans and Telangana's new AI screening initiative aim to improve early detection.

Breaking stigma and misinformation

Dr. Sravan Dubasi said stigma and online misinformation often delay treatment, as many patients wrongly believe lung cancer is contagious, incurable or not worth treating. He warned against delaying hospital care for unproven alternative therapies, noting that second-hand smoke and inherited genetic mutations increase risk, while early medical evaluation offers the best chance of cure.

He also expressed concern over the growing reliance on unproven Ayurvedic treatments. "Based on anecdotal evidence, individual experiences, Ayurvedic treatment is spreading more," he said. He noted that many patients first opt for such therapies and reach hospitals only in advanced Stage IV disease, by which time valuable treatment opportunities have often been lost. World Lung Cancer Day is observed annually on August 1.