Lung Cancer in Nonsmokers

Can People Who Never Smoked Get Lung Cancer?

Yes, many people who develop lung cancer never smoked. While cigarette smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, many other factors may contribute to a diagnosis.

Potential causes of lung cancer besides smoking include:

• Asbestos
• Family history and genetics
• Polluted air
• Radon gas
• Secondhand smoke

While it can be shocking to receive a lung cancer diagnosis if you don’t smoke, treatments are available to improve survival and allow you to spend more time with loved ones.

If you’re concerned about lung cancer due to risk factors like a family history or exposure to asbestos, see a specialist to arrange a screening — even if you don’t have symptoms. This can help to potentially diagnose you before lung cancer has spread and it’s easier to treat.

Get a Free Lung Cancer Guide to explore how other factors besides smoking can cause cancer and how to find help after a diagnosis.

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Neversmokers vs. Nonsmokers and Lung Cancer

Nonsmokers and neversmokers are two distinct types of lung cancer patients, according to Yale Medicine.

Here are the key differences between the two:

• Nonsmokers: These are patients who don’t currently smoke but have smoked more than 100 cigarettes over the course of their life. They are at a higher risk of lung cancer related to smoking.
• Neversmokers: These patients have smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes. Some may have never smoked at all. Genetic mutations are a common reason why these patients develop lung cancer.

If you or a loved one developed lung cancer and didn’t smoke, your doctor will look at your health history to determine possible reasons why.

Nonsmokers and Lung Cancer Causes

Lung cancer in nonsmokers is often caused by exposure to harmful substances or genetic mutations passed down from family members.

Common causes of lung cancer in nonsmokers include:

• Asbestos: Asbestos is a fiber-like material that can damage the body if breathed in or swallowed. More than 34,000 lung cancer deaths every year are caused by exposure to asbestos.
• Contaminated air: Breathing in toxic air is the second-leading cause of lung cancer, according to a 2023 Journal of Thoracic Oncology report. Air contaminated by diesel exhaust, power plant fumes, and more can all lead to lung cancer.
• Family history: If a loved one had lung cancer, it may run in your family. Changes in the EGFR or ALK genes, known as driver mutations, are more likely in nonsmokers with lung cancer.
• Radon: Radon is a colorless and odorless gas that may seep into homes from the ground. Long-term exposure to high levels of radon can trigger lung cancer. Between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year are caused by radon.
• Secondhand smoke: Exposure to secondhand smoke typically occurs if you live with someone who smokes. It’s responsible for 7,300 cases of lung cancer per year, according to the CDC.
• Other factors: Women are at a higher risk of lung cancer even if they don’t smoke. In fact, 50% of women who develop lung cancer are nonsmokers. Being aged 65 or older, having other lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or being exposed to radiation can all increase the chances of lung cancer.

“If you’re a non-smoker who’s been newly diagnosed with lung cancer, think about anything you’ve been exposed to that might be helpful for us to document, especially secondhand smoke.”

— Dr. Humam Kadara, lung cancer specialist

These factors also increase the risk of lung cancer among smokers or former smokers, as they worsen the damage done to the lungs.

The Risk of Lung Cancer From Asbestos in Nonsmokers

Exposure to asbestos is a very notable cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers. This fiber-like material was used in hundreds of products throughout industries like construction and shipbuilding from the 1930s to the early 1980s.

Asbestos helped improve durability and fireproofing for buildings, ships, machinery, and more. However, working with asbestos could release fibers into the air. Workers could breathe in these fibers, which could get trapped in their lungs, causing long-term irritation and eventually asbestos lung cancer.

For decades, the general public didn’t know that asbestos was a cancer-causing substance. This is because manufacturers of asbestos-containing products hid the health risks for decades.

Symptoms of Lung Cancer in Nonsmokers

The symptoms of lung cancer in nonsmokers are the same as in those who smoked. Some of the most common early signs of lung cancer in nonsmokers include a cough and shortness of breath.

Other potential lung cancer symptoms in nonsmokers include:

• Chest pain
• Difficulty swallowing
• Fatigue
• Hoarseness
• Pain in the bones
• Recurring lung-related infections
• Weight and appetite loss

Whether caused by smoking or not, many cases of lung cancer do not cause symptoms until tumors have started to spread, making them harder to treat.

“The bottom line is, I never smoked a day in my life. You may not have any symptoms — zero symptoms.”

— Jackie, lung cancer survivor

For this reason, knowing potential risk factors other than smoking and seeing a doctor if you’re concerned about lung cancer are key to protecting your health.

Should Nonsmokers Be Screened for Lung Cancer?

Doctors typically recommend getting screened for lung cancer if you have a history of long-term smoking. With that said, talk to a doctor if you’re concerned about lung cancer, even if you never smoked.

Lung cancer screening may be recommended if you have a history of:

• Chronic lung disease or unexplained symptoms
• Lung cancer in your family
• Prolonged exposure to asbestos, radon, or other toxins
• Radiation exposure for other cancers or health problems
• Secondhand smoke exposure

Early-detection screening is done with a low-dose CT scan. This test creates detailed lung images and can detect potential tumors before symptoms appear.

If oncologists (cancer doctors) believe you’re at risk based on the results of a screening, they can recommend further tests to confirm a lung cancer diagnosis. These may include PET scans, MRIs, X-rays, and finally a biopsy (removal of tissue sample to determine if cancer is present).

Type of Lung Cancer in Nonsmokers

By far, the most common type of cancer found in neversmokers is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Non-small cell lung cancer in nonsmokers accounts for virtually all cases, according to a 2020 report.

NSCLC has several subtypes, with adenocarcinoma being the most prevalent among nonsmokers. In fact, over 77% of nonsmokers developed adenocarcinoma in a 2022 study.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the second-most common type of lung cancer, but it’s almost exclusively caused by smoking.

Lung Cancer in Nonsmokers Prognosis

While lung cancer in general has a poor prognosis (health outlook), nonsmokers who are diagnosed may potentially live longer than smokers.

Yale Medicine notes that cases of lung cancer in nonsmokers tend to be easier to treat and are less prone to metastasis (spread to distant parts of the body). Both of these elements contribute to a better prognosis.

Factors like type of lung cancer, a patient’s overall health, and available treatments also play a role in patient survival.

Lung Cancer in Nonsmokers Survival Rate

Survival rate is the percentage of patients still living a specific amount of time following a diagnosis. It’s typically measured in years.

The 2-year lung cancer survival rate among nonsmokers was 52% in a recent study. Just 17% of smokers with lung cancer were alive after 2 years.

Life Expectancy of Nonsmokers With Lung Cancer

Life expectancy measures the average amount of time a lung cancer patient lives following a diagnosis.

The lung cancer life expectancy among nonsmokers was much higher when compared to patients who smoked in a 2022 study. Nonsmokers lived for 15 months while smokers lived for just 10 months on average.

The key to improving survival with lung cancer is to get treatment. Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide to find therapies that could help you live longer and how to afford them.

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Nonsmokers and Lung Cancer Treatments

Doctors can use a wide range of treatment options to help nonsmokers with lung cancer live longer and experience fewer symptoms.

Common lung cancer treatments include:

• Chemotherapy: These are cancer-killing medications that are given systemically (meaning they circulate through the body). Chemotherapy may be used before or after surgery to destroy as much of the cancer as possible.
• Immunotherapy: This type of therapy trains the body’s immune system to fight lung cancer. It may be used to help nonsmokers, but current studies show it’s more effective for smokers with lung cancer.
• Radiation therapy: Beams of energy damage and destroy lung cancer cells. Doctors often use radiation alongside surgery, chemotherapy, and other lung cancer treatments for best results.
• Surgery: Doctors typically recommend surgery for nonsmokers with early-stage lung cancer, according to Yale Medicine. Surgery allows all visible tumors to be removed. Nearby lymph nodes may also be taken out to prevent lung cancer spread.
• Targeted therapy: This treatment identifies specific proteins and genes in cancer tumors to destroy them without harming healthy parts of the body. A 2021 study found that up to 92% of nonsmokers with lung cancer could benefit from targeted therapies focused on driver mutations.
• Clinical trials: These test new treatments with the hopes of improving patient survival. A medication called LP-300 boosted the survival of female nonsmokers with lung cancer to over 27 months in a recent clinical trial. Women who didn’t receive LP-300 lived for just 13 months on average.

In some cases, hospitals may offer treatment plans tailored exclusively for lung cancer among nonsmokers. For example, your health care team may recommend getting molecular profiling or genetic testing done to see if targeted therapy could help treat your lung cancer.

Nonsmokers and Lung Cancer Prevention

While it’s difficult to eliminate all risk, there are steps that nonsmokers can take to reduce their chances of developing lung cancer.

Key ways to prevent lung cancer in nonsmokers include:

• Avoid asbestos, secondhand smoke, and other toxins: Even being exposed to asbestos just once can potentially lead to lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other diseases. Limiting exposure to secondhand smoke, polluted air, and more is also an excellent way to reduce risk.
• Know your family history: A history of lung cancer or certain genetic mutations may mean increased risk.
• Reduce indoor and outdoor air pollution: Use air filters and avoid high-pollution areas when possible.
• Test your home for radon gas: Since radon is colorless and odorless, you may not realize that your home is affected. Getting a radon testing kit can help you find out if you may be in danger.

Talk to your oncology team about genetic testing and screenings if you’re concerned about developing lung cancer but never smoked.

Compensation Options for Nonsmoking Lung Cancer Victims

The cost of treating lung cancer can exceed hundreds of thousands of dollars in some cases. Even with insurance, an unexpected diagnosis can create significant financial stress.

Lung cancer compensation can help offset expenses and allow you to focus on getting the care you deserve. You may be entitled to compensation for lung cancer even if you never smoked.

You can pursue lung cancer compensation through:

• Lung cancer lawsuits: These legal claims have awarded $1 million or more in some cases, allowing lung cancer patients to get treatment without worrying about how they’ll pay for it.
• Trust fund claims: Manufacturers of asbestos-containing products set up trust funds to avoid lawsuits. Asbestos trust funds contain over $30 billion today, and you may qualify for a payout without going to court.
• VA benefits for veterans: If your lung cancer is traced back to toxic exposure while serving your country, you could qualify for monthly VA disability compensation worth over $4,000 a month.

Get a Free Case Review now to see if our team can help you or a nonsmoker with lung cancer you love pursue compensation.

Get Our Free Lung Cancer Guide

• Understand risk factors
• Find top treatments
• Pursue compensation

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Help for Nonsmokers Facing a Lung Cancer Diagnosis

Tens of thousands of nonsmokers develop lung cancer every year due to asbestos, radon, genetic mutations, and more.

If you or a loved one didn’t smoke, a lung cancer diagnosis can be shocking and overwhelming. However, there are many resources available to make the journey easier to bear.

At Lung Cancer Group, we can help you:

• Explore key lung cancer treatments
• Find compensation options to cover expenses
• Navigate a lung cancer diagnosis more easily

Get a Free Lung Cancer Guide now or call (877) 446-5767 to see all of the ways we may be able to assist you and your family.