Lung Cancer Cases Rising in Nonsmokers
When Sherry Haines was in her 40s, lung cancer was a diagnosis she never imagined she would face.
“I didn’t fall into the category of being at risk and since I have never smoked, I never thought it was something I had to worry about,” Haines said.
Haines isn’t alone.
A recent study published in JAMA highlights a rise in lung cancer among nonsmoking individuals, accounting for 15% to 20% of all lung cancer cases. Although the underlying reason for the uptick remains unknown, Lary Robinson, MD, director of Moffitt Cancer Center’s Lung Cancer Early Detection Center, says causes could include genetic mutations and exposure to air pollution, secondhand smoke and radon.
Incidental Finding
Like many others, Haines’ lung cancer was found incidentally. In 2015, scans taken after back surgery complications revealed a nodule in her lung.
“At first I didn’t take it very seriously because I have never smoked,” Haines said. “I thought there was no way that this was cancer.”
According to Robinson, 95% of the 1.6 million lung nodules found annually are discovered incidentally.
“If a person has an abnormality on the chest CT scan, then they may need evaluation, particularly if it is a nodule of any significant size, usually that is felt to be greater than 6 millimeters in diameter,” Robinson said. “On the other hand, over 50% of people over the age of 50 who have a chest CT scan will have some kind of tiny nodule and the vast majority are not cancer. Therefore, it is important that an experienced individual evaluates the findings of a nodule.”
Three years after Haines’ initial scans showed a lung nodule, a chest X-ray was taken before another scheduled surgery for her back. This X-ray revealed not one, but numerous lung nodules.
Diagnosis and Treatment
After follow-up testing, Haines was diagnosed with stage 4 ALK-positive lung cancer, a rare type of non-small cell lung cancer caused by a gene rearrangement.
She came to Moffitt and quickly started targeted therapy.
“I am on my second line of treatment now, and I have been responding really well to it,” Haines said.
Spreading Awareness
Now at 55, Haines hopes that her personal story will encourage others to investigate symptoms that seem abnormal, despite being a nonsmoker.
“People need to be aware of symptoms and signs, even if they do not have known risk factors like a history of smoking,” she said. “It’s so important to be mindful of signs from your body. Looking back, I was dealing with terrible fatigue for a long time and had a slight cough that I told myself was nothing, which is easy to do.”
