Meena Agarwal Meena Agarwal Asked 4 months ago

How do people get lung cancer?

My neighbor, who never smoked, recently got diagnosed with lung cancer, and it's made me very worried about the air quality in our city. Apart from smoking, what are the other common ways people get lung cancer? Is pollution a big factor?

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6 answers

Shalini Sharma Shalini Sharma Joined May 2026 4 months ago
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While smoking is the most well-known cause, lung cancer can also happen to non-smokers due to heavy air pollution, second-hand smoke, or exposure to radon gas. Managing my thyroid taught me that persistent symptoms like a chronic cough should never be ignored. It is best to consult a pulmonologist and get a chest X-ray done for peace of mind.

Geeta Joshi Geeta Joshi Joined Mar 2026 4 months ago

I used to think drinking herbal kashayams and ginger-honey water could protect our lungs from all diseases and pollution. While these soothe a normal throat, they cannot prevent or cure serious cell changes like cancer. If someone is facing chronic breathing difficulty, please skip the home remedies and consult an oncologist.

Priya Mathew Priya Mathew Joined Apr 2026 4 months ago

I totally get it, just the name of this disease can cause so much fear and anxiety for anyone. It is usually caused by active smoking, but environmental factors and genetics play a major role too. Please support your loved ones, encourage them to get tested if they have symptoms, and don't panic.

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Consult a pulmonologist

Kabir Kapoor Kabir Kapoor Joined Feb 2026 4 months ago

My uncle actually got lung cancer even though he never touched a cigarette in his life. The doc said long-term exposure to toxic construction dust at his workplace was a major trigger. So yeah, smoking is the main culprit, but bad air and toxic fumes are also serious risks.

Devendra Vyas Devendra Vyas Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

Over my seventy years, I have seen many friends suffer from lung issues, and while smoking is indeed the biggest risk, our city's dusty air and industrial smoke also play a huge part now. If you have a cough that won't go away or breathing difficulty, don't ignore it thinking it is just old age. Get a proper checkup done.

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Sister Lini Mathew Sister Lini Mathew Joined Jul 2026 3 months ago

Look, as a nurse, I can tell you that tobacco smoke contains chemicals that damage lung cells immediately, which can lead to cancer over years. But we also see patients who get it from genetic mutations or passive smoking. If anyone has a cough with blood or unexplained weight loss, they must see a specialist immediately.

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