New Updates on Lung Cancer Risk Factors That You Need to Know

Recent findings have brought new insights into the complex nature of lung cancer, challenging the commonly held perception that it is solely a smoker’s disease. While it is well-known that smoking remains a major risk factor, emerging research has unveiled a range of additional factors that can increase an individual’s chances of developing lung cancer:

• Smoking
• Long-term exposure to secondhand smoke
• HIV infection
• Lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus
• Toxic substances like asbestos and radon
• Air pollution
• Family history
• Genetic

This article will explore recent updates on lung cancer risks beyond smoking, highlighting the diverse factors contributing to this disease.

Read more: Are You At Risk For Lung Cancer?

E-cigarettes contain chemicals that are known to cause cancer. The liquid in a vape, similar to traditional cigarettes, contains nicotine, flavorings, and other toxic additives. The vapor created is equally poisonous to your lungs as any conventional cigarette.

There is no evidence yet on the long-term effects caused by vaping, as the trend only started.

Dr. Stephen Broderick, a lung cancer surgeon at Johns Hopkins Medicine, emphasizes the need for rigorous studies to show “exactly how vaping affects the lungs. He stated that with tobacco, there are six decades of studies showing the impact of chemicals inhaled during smoking on the lungs.

In 2019, a study showed a definitive link between vaping and lung cancer in mice exposed to vaping nicotine equivalent to “a person who vaped for about three to six years.” After 54 weeks of exposure, one-fifth of the mice developed lung cancer.

The latest findings reported at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Cancers Symposium suggested that e-cigarette users pose a higher risk of lung cancer than their traditional cigarette counterparts, using National Health Interview Survey data to compare these patients to their smoking histories.

Vaping and e-cigarettes have become increasingly common among people due to their convenience and rising popularity. However, they contribute to the extensive list of risks associated with lung cancer. Although the long-term effects of vaping are still under investigation, recent research indicates worrisome signs of potential harm.

The lack of long-term evidence should not encourage people to categorize vaping and e-cigarettes as safer alternatives to tobacco smoking. With the ongoing expansion of vaping and e-cigarette usage, individuals need to recognize the detrimental impact they can have on their health.

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Anti-smoking campaigns have some effect in reducing lung cancer cases, but the total case number remains unchanged. Studies in the US and UK are observing a change in the proportion of smokers to never-smokers among their lung cancer patients.

“Fewer people smoke today than in previous decades — 15% in 2015, 25% in 1995, 30% in 1985, 42% in 1965. Because there are fewer smokers in the population, fewer will be smokers out of every 100 lung cancer patients. And that means more of them will be never-smokers,” says epidemiologist Ahmedin Jemal of the American Cancer Society.

Lung cancers among non-smokers can be a different disease from the ones in smokers, triggered by very different genetic changes. The type of lung cancer seen in most non-smokers is predominantly non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Scientists have turned their attention to risk factors other than smoking. It was found that in most non-smokers, the cancer-causing mutations accumulate naturally in the body over time. And the only possible explanation for such mutations is exposure to environmental risk factors like secondhand smoke, radon, asbestos or air pollution. Check out the following news on these risk factors:

Air pollution causes cancer, world health authority says

'Not just a disease of smokers' — Lung cancer ranks as deadliest in Southeast Nebraska

Data from a recent study reiterated that lung cancer runs in the family. Nearly 15% of lung cancer patients carry germline (hereditary) mutations in known cancer genes. It raised the question of whether genetic testing for cancer risk should be included in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommendations.

“Identifying pathogenic variants informs recommendations for screening for early cancer detection, preventive measures such as surgery, and cascade testing of at-risk family members,” says Dr Renato Martins, author of the study.

The NCCN recommends germline testing for pancreatic, ovarian, colorectal, and a substantial group of breast cancer patients.

The changing proportion of smokers to never-smokers among lung cancer patients highlights the importance of recognizing the risks of lung cancer for non-smokers. For individuals who are at risk, look out for signs of lung cancer and seek medical consultations if suspect for lung cancer.

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Worldwide, more than half of female lung cancer patients never smoked. Lung cancer in never smokers occurs more frequently in women and at an earlier age than lung cancer in smokers.

According to Josephine Feliciano, an oncologist at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, risk factors like “air pollution, radon, family history of lung cancer, [and] genetic predispositions” can cause lung cancer.

But none of those affects women more than men. In this case, “nothing stands out as a single large risk factor” beyond sex.

One of the genetic predispositions for lung cancer is the mutation in a protein called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Cells with mutated EGFR grow uncontrollably into a cancerous tumor.

The EGFR overexpression is responsible for around 30% of NSCLC globally. Among never-smokers, this gene mutation is most common among Asian females.

These findings emphasize the importance of recognizing and addressing females’ distinctive risks in relation to lung cancer. Early detection and ongoing research provide hope for better outcomes for this demographic.

These recent studies also reveal that a multitude of factors contribute to the development of lung cancer. The discovery of risks through continuous and remarkable research should be viewed as an encouraging prospect. The risks can pave the way for additional testing and early detection techniques. It also raises awareness, providing people with information on what to look out for.