New Study Suggests Clues to Lung Cancer Among Never-Smokers
- Actress Kate Micucci, 45, had never picked up a cigarette, the leading cause of lung cancer, before she was diagnosed with the disease. Her cancer was caught in its early stages, making it easier to treat. She’s since undergone lung cancer surgery and reached remission.
- Smoking remains the most significant risk factor for lung cancer, accounting for 80 to 90% of deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smokers are 15 to 30 times more likely to develop or die from lung cancer than nonsmokers.
- New research published in ‘Nature’ studied lung tumors from 871 never-smokers and found that air pollution exposure was linked to damage in the TP53 gene, which normally helps prevent cancer. However, more research is still needed to substantiate further the suggested link between air pollution and people diagnosed with lung cancer who’ve never smoked cigarettes.
- The study also showed that high levels of pollution exposure were associated with shortened telomeres, the protective ends of chromosomes in our DNA. Shortened telomeres are linked to higher risks of cancer and other serious health problems.
- Genetic changes from pollution in these patients closely resembled those found in smokers, despite the fact that they had never smoked.
- Lung cancer symptoms often go unnoticed due to their subtlety, with signs like shortness of breath, fatigue, and a persistent cough blending in with everyday ailments.
- Lung cancer treatment varies based on tumor location and disease progression, with options including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or combinations of these treatments.
“I’ve never smoked a cigarette in my life, so it was a surprise,” Micucci said on her TikTok video.
“Among patients who are smokers, who have more complex cancers that have hundreds, sometimes thousands of mutations, don’t have a driver mutation that we can give a pill for, which is only a tiny percentage of lifelong smokers. Chemotherapy is the primary treatment in most patients,” Dr. Natale explains further.
Scientists have spent years trying to understand how people who’ve never smoked develop the disease. Although second-hand smoke is one known contributor, many questions still remain — and researchers are working to uncover what other hidden risks might be involved.
Now, we’re a step closer to getting answers thanks to a team of scientists led by researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the University of California, San Diego, who studied lung cancer in people who had never smoked.
The research published in Nature looked closely at the genetic makeup of lung tumors from 871 never-smokers to better understand how the disease develops.
WATCH: Smoking and Cancer Risk
They found that people who had been exposed to high levels of air pollution — especially the fine particles released by cars and factories — were much more likely to have damage to a specific gene called TP53, which normally helps prevent cancer.
The study also showed that pollution exposure was associated with shortened telomeres, the protective ends of chromosomes in our DNA that wear down with age and stress. Shortened telomeres are linked to higher risks of cancer and other serious health problems.
Researchers also highlighted some of the genetic changes caused by pollution that looked similar to the damage typically seen in people who smoke — even though these patients had never smoked a cigarette. Despite the promising findings in the study, more research is still needed to substantiate further the suggested link between air pollution and people diagnosed with lung cancer who’ve never smoked cigarettes.
Helping Patients Understand Lung Cancer Risks
Smoking and Lung Cancer Risk
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths for men and women in the United States. Nonsmokers still get lung cancer, but cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for the disease. Tobacco smoke contains a mixture of more than 7,000 different chemicals, at least 70 of which are known to cause cancer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says.
The CDC says cigarette smoking is linked to about 80 to 90 percent of lung cancer deaths, and people who smoke cigarettes are 15 to 30 times more likely to get lung cancer or die from lung cancer than people who don’t smoke. Additionally, second-hand smoke can cause lung cancer.
Kate’s Diagnosis and Recovery From Lung Cancer
In 2023, Micucci revealed she had been diagnosed with lung cancer despite having never smoked – a leading risk factor for lung cancer.
She says she’s grateful her cancer was caught in its early stages, which is rare considering lung cancer’s subtle symptoms make it difficult to detect during its early stages, when it is easier to treat.
She underwent surgery for treatment. Research published in the open-access journal Cancer Medicine notes patients who undergo lung cancer surgery “often suffer pain after discharge.”
“Managing pain after surgery is difficult once you get home,” thoracic surgery nurse Melissa Jane Culligan tells SurvivorNet.
While recovering from surgery, patients may have trouble sleeping.
“It’s important that you stay connected and, as things change that maybe don’t feel right, that you connect with your care team and make sure that either they do something to make you feel better or that they reassure you that this is to be expected because your pain will change in location and nature,” Culligan said.
Culligan says patients may experience a little more pain after surgery as they become more active. However, that doesn’t mean there’s something wrong. She says it means you may need to take a little bit more pain medicine as your body continues to recuperate.
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Today, Micucci, who has a young son, remains in remission. She often posts many videos about various paintings and travel experiences as she continues to thrive after facing lung cancer.
Helping You Better Understand Lung Cancer
Lung cancer forms when cancer cells develop in the tissues of the lung. It is the second most common form of cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in the U.S., SurvivorNet experts say. It’s “completely asymptomatic,” says thoracic surgeon-in-chief at Temple University Health System Dr. Joseph Friedberg.
“It causes no issues until it has spread somewhere. So, if it spreads to the bones, it may cause pain. If it spreads to the brain, it may cause something not subtle, like a seizure,” Dr. Friedberg adds.
WATCH: Understanding the Lung Cancer Staging Process
Scans such as X-rays can help doctors determine if a shadow appears, which can prompt further testing for lung cancer.
Lung cancer often doesn’t cause symptoms until it has already spread outside the lungs, according to SurvivorNet’s experts.
There are two main types of lung cancer, which doctors group together based on how they act and how they’re treated:
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type and makes up about 85% of cases.
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is less common, but it tends to grow faster than NSCLC and is treated very differently.
Some people with lung cancer may experience symptoms such as:
- A worsening cough that produces bloody phlegm
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Chest pain
- Hoarse voice
- Appetite loss
- Weight loss
If you experience these symptoms consistently, contact your doctor for further evaluation.
WATCH: How Immunotherapy Helped Give This Lung Cancer Patient a Fighting Chance
Treatment options for lung cancer depend on its type, its location, and its staging. In general, treatment methods include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of any of these treatments.
Questions for Your Doctor
If you find yourself diagnosed with lung cancer and are concerned about the long-term impacts, here are some questions you can ask your doctor.
- Has my cancer spread to other parts of the body?
- Based on my cancer stage, what are my treatment options?
- What are the side effects of my recommended treatment?
- Are there ways to help minimize the effects of treatment?
- How long will I be unable to work or carry out my daily activities?
- What financial resources are available to help me afford the treatments I need?
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