What You Should Know About Lung Cancer, Plus Two Women's Stories

Although smoking is a well-known risk factor for lung cancer, it's important to know that non-smokers can still be at risk. In this 2 Your Well-Being discussion, listen to two women's stories and learn about lung cancer from Mohamed K. Mohamed, MD, thoracic medical oncologist with Cone Health Cancer Center.

Watch Lawana and Lynn's stories.

Lawana Leak Best and Lynn Sametz were both non-smokers, but were diagnosed with lung cancer. Listen to their important stories below. 

Who is at risk for lung cancer?

“Everyone is at risk for lung cancer. We always think of lung cancer as a cancer of smokers. But unfortunately, we have been seeing a lot of non-smokers presenting with lung cancer… lung cancer can affect anyone, regardless of age and regardless of the smoking history.”

How do non-smokers get lung cancer?

“A non-smoker can get lung cancer from many other factors. Actually, secondhand smoking is a big deal. There are almost 7000 deaths from lung cancer and secondhand smoke. Radon, which is a colorless, odorless gas that could be present in any of our houses also can go undetected and it's a cause for lung cancer. … The air pollution is [also] a factor in lung cancer.”

Why are screenings important? Who should be screened for lung cancer?

“[Screenings are] important for early detection. Mainly because we did not have a screening in the past, that's why survivorship and lung cancer was very poor, but we have made some improvement.”

“Talk to your family doctor, or we have also a screening program at Cone Health Cancer Center, and also at our pulmonary office, that can help people to be screened for lung cancer.

“Also, I would like people younger in age – especially women who have symptoms that persist – to insist on getting some imaging studies to make sure that they don't have lung cancer as the underlying disease that causing their problem…”

What are the symptoms of lung cancer?

“It is a cancer of the lung, so it can affect the airway. The main symptoms will be symptoms related to the lungs – breathing issues, shortness of breath, coughing blood, chest pain – definitely, you know, when these symptoms really are not going away, for one. Second, because it's cancer, it can cause weight loss, it can cause fatigue, and again, obstruction of the airway – so these are symptoms that really have we have to pay attention to it when we deal with lung cancer.” 

What can I do to reduce my risk for lung cancer? 

“There are several things I would say. First, tobacco use. Anyone who smokes should really quit smoking. I would encourage people to support any effort to stop smoking and making the environment smoke free. Secondhand smoking is responsible for a big number of people dying, so avoid secondhand smoke.”

“And radon. You should test your house for radon to make sure that you don't have high level of radon exposure. With air pollution, sometimes we don't have a lot we can do with it, but we can also, you know, support the government effort to address that.”

“In general, I would like to advise everyone to take lung cancer as a serious problem… protect yourself, protect your other family member by stopping smoking and also by looking for early symptoms.”