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Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S., claiming more lives than breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers combined. One of the most surprising trends we’re seeing is a rise in lung cancer diagnoses among younger individuals who have never smoked.
In fact, up to 20% of new lung cancer cases occur in people who have never smoked or who have smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime. About two-thirds of these cases happen in younger women.
This shift challenges long-held assumptions about who is at risk for lung cancer, and underscores the importance of early detection and personalized care.
But there’s good news: Although lung cancer screening with low-dose CT is currently recommended only for individuals with a significant smoking history, advances in imaging, minimally invasive techniques, targeted therapies, and immunotherapies are enabling earlier diagnosis and more personalized treatment for all patients once lung cancer is suspected.
MedStar Health uses advanced technologies and a team-based approach to diagnose and treat lung cancer as quickly and safely as possible.
Lung cancer prevention and early detection are key to achieving optimal outcomes. The first step is to understand your risk factors.
Risk factors, symptoms, and screening for lung cancer.
Traditionally, cigarette smoking was the primary risk factor for lung cancer. Today, we’re seeing more people who have never smoked being diagnosed, many of them younger. Research is ongoing to understand why this is happening, but the reality is clear: if you have lungs, you can get lung cancer.
In addition to smoking, other risk factors include exposure to secondhand smoke, radon, asbestos, and air pollution. Genetics and certain environmental factors may also play a role.
Because the lung tissue itself lacks pain receptors, early tumors can grow without causing symptoms. Symptoms often appear when the cancer affects the airways, pleura, or chest wall. When symptoms do appear, they may include:
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Chest pain
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Fatigue
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Persistent cough
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Shortness of breath
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Unexplained weight loss
If you have any of these symptoms, especially if they persist, talk with a doctor.
Depending on your age and overall health history, the doctor may recommend lung cancer screening with a non-invasive low-dose CT scan. It takes just a few minutes and can identify small, early tumors before symptoms develop, when cancer is most treatable.
Routine screening is currently recommended for adults 50-80 with a 20-pack-year smoking history (smoking a pack of cigarettes per day for 20 years, or two packs per day for 10 years) who currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years.
Related reading: Read “How Do Lung Cancer Stages Affect Treatment Success?”
Tailoring therapy to each patient.
When lung cancer is caught early, it is highly treatable and often curable. When a suspicious lung nodule is detected, the speed and accuracy of diagnosis are paramount. MedStar Health offers the most advanced therapies, including minimally invasive and robotic-assisted options.
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Combined Robotic Assisted Thoracic Surgery (CRATS): A minimally invasive procedure that enables us to perform diagnosis, pathology, staging, and treatment with one procedure.
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Monarch™ Auris and ION™ Robotic Bronchoscopy platforms: These systems provide GPS-like guidance to navigate the lung’s complex airways and reach lesions that were previously considered unreachable.
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Targeted therapy: Based on the genetic makeup of your tumor, we can prescribe drugs that specifically block cancer growth. Targeted therapies are highly effective for patients whose tumors harbor specific genetic mutations.
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Immunotherapy: These treatments harness your immune system to fight cancer. Some patients with advanced disease are living longer and even going off therapy with long-lasting responses.
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Proton therapy: Proton radiation can be controlled to stop precisely at the tumor’s edge, reducing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. This precision is particularly beneficial for select patients with lung tumors, helping spare healthy lung tissue and the heart while lowering the risk of long-term side effects.
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Clinical trials: In partnership with our research engine, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, we offer access to promising new therapies. These studies are exploring next-generation treatments, including innovative cellular approaches such as T-cell engager therapies, tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy, and CAR T-cell therapies for solid tumors.
Related reading: Read “Understanding Minimally Invasive Lung Cancer Surgery”.
Team-based care makes a difference.
At MedStar Health, we know the best care comes from collaboration. Our multidisciplinary teams of specialists such as medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, thoracic surgeons, pulmonologists, pathologists, and radiologists review cases and develop personalized treatment plans together.
Here, patients and their families can benefit from coordinated care. Beyond medical treatment, our team includes nurse navigators, social workers, physical therapists, and palliative care experts who support patients through every step of their journey.
We’re seeing better outcomes for patients of all ages with all stages of cancer, thanks to early detection, advanced therapies, and compassionate care. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with lung cancer as a never-smoker or at a young age, or if you’re concerned about your risk, don’t wait.
Talk with a doctor about whether you could benefit from screening and know that help is available. With the right team and the right treatment, there is hope for people with lung cancer.
