Can non-smokers get lung cancer?

Can non-smokers get lung cancer?

Jay M. Lee (Surgical Director, Thoracic Oncology Program, UCLA) gives expert video advice on: What ethnicity has the highest incidence of lung cancer?; Can non-smokers get lung cancer?; Is the mortality rate high for those diagnosed with lung cancer? and more...

Non-smokers can certainly get lung cancer because there are other causes for lung cancer besides smoking. These things would include radon exposure, which is a radioactive gas which can lead to increasing the risk for lung cancer, work related carcinogens like asbestos exposure, air pollution, there are various carcinogens that are present with combustion of diesel and fossil fuels, and finally some chronic lung diseases such as tuberculosis can enhance the risk for lung cancer.