What are the symptoms lung cancer in non-smokers?

If you thought that the symptoms of lung cancer in non-smokers are the same as smokers then you are wrong!

Unlike popular belief, even non-smokers are at a risk of suffering from cancer. However, lung cancer in smokers is different than that seen in non-smokers. Dr Vikas Maurya, Sr. Consultant & HOD, Department of Pulmonology & Sleep Disorders, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi reveals the symptoms of lung cancer in non-smokers and the diagnosis.

What are the symptoms of lung cancer in non-smokers?

Symptoms of lung cancer in non-smokers are usually subtle, may be different from lung cancer in those who smoke and may also be detected late. This may range from tiredness or fatigue to persistent cough, wheezing (allergy like symptoms), weight loss, fever and shortness of breath whereas smokers with lung cancer may show more severe symptoms and may have blood in cough. Here are 8 cancer-causers in your daily life you should be aware of.

What about the diagnosis of lung cancer in non-smokers?

Diagnosis also is usually late, with only about 16% of cases are caught at an early stage (stage1). This is a stage when it may be a curable disease. In a majority of the patients, it is diagnosed late with tumour grown large enough resulting in non-curable disease. The tumors in non-smokers also seem to be distinct and tend to have different genetic mutations. About half of tumors in people who have never smoked have mutations that can be targeted by newer drugs. This may help explain why non-smokers with lung cancer tend to live longer than current and former smokers with the disease. But now with raising awareness of lung cancer and certain advances in screening, early diagnosis can be made in the future.

Research is currently in progress to figure out ways to detect lung cancer in non-smokers at an earlier stage. In the future, doctors may be able to test for tumour markers, substances in the blood associated with cancer, to find these cancers in non-smokers at the earliest and at the most treatable stages. In terms of prognosis, still, some (but not all) studies suggest that overall survival is better in non-smokers. This difference is most apparent for those who are diagnosed at an early stage of the disease. Female non-smokers have a better prognosis in general than male non-smokers with lung cancer. Here are 3 common causes of lung cancer in non-smokers.

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