Bengaluru/Panipat,In a concerning trend, two unrelated individuals from different parts of India have been diagnosed with lung cancer despite having no known risk factors such as smoking or exposure to tobacco. A 34-year-old IT professional from Bengaluru and a 43-year-old school teacher from Panipat are among a growing number of non-smokers developing lung cancer, raising fresh concerns over environmental and genetic contributors.
Both individuals led what would traditionally be considered healthy lifestyles. They exercised regularly, consumed home-cooked meals, and had no history of smoking or occupational exposure to industrial chemicals. According to doctors familiar with the cases, these profiles represent an increasing subset of lung cancer patients—non-smokers with no obvious cause.
Medical experts believe that rising air pollution, prolonged exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), indoor pollutants like biomass fumes, and possible genetic predispositions are contributing to this shift. In major Indian cities such as Delhi, Bengaluru, and Panipat, air quality regularly falls below safe limits recommended by the World Health Organization.
Dr. Vishal Rao, head and neck surgical oncologist at HCG Bengaluru, stated that in his hospital alone, nearly 30 to 60 percent of lung cancer cases now occur in non-smokers. “Air pollution is increasingly becoming a major culprit, especially in metropolitan regions,” he said.
According to a 2024 report by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), lung cancer is now the second most common cancer among Indian men and the fifth most common among women. The incidence among non-smokers—particularly urban women—is rising steadily.
The Gujarat Cancer Research Institute in Ahmedabad also revealed that over 4,300 lung cancer patients were treated in just five years, with a growing number of them being women and non-smokers. Doctors there emphasized that many cases present late due to a lack of symptoms or low suspicion in patients with no smoking history.
In Panipat, where industrial emissions contribute significantly to ambient air pollution, the 43-year-old female teacher had no exposure to traditional risk factors. Her case was detected during a CT scan after prolonged coughing and chest discomfort. Oncologists believe her exposure to poor air quality and possible genetic markers may have played a role.
In Bengaluru, the IT professional’s case surprised even his medical team. A routine check-up followed by imaging revealed early-stage adenocarcinoma, the most common lung cancer type among non-smokers. Genetic testing showed an EGFR mutation, which is increasingly being identified in Indian non-smoker lung cancer patients, especially women.
The World Health Organization has previously warned about the link between air pollution and lung cancer, noting that fine dust particles can penetrate lung tissues and initiate cellular mutations even in healthy individuals.
Public health officials are now urging early screening and increased awareness, even among those without smoking habits. Low-dose CT scans are being recommended for individuals who live in high-pollution areas or have a family history of cancer.
Doctors also emphasize the need to bust myths around lung cancer being solely a smoker’s disease. “Non-smokers should be equally vigilant about symptoms like persistent cough, unexplained weight loss, or chest pain,” said Dr. Randeep Guleria, former director of AIIMS, in a statement issued for World Lung Cancer Day.
With India’s air pollution crisis continuing, particularly during winter months, oncologists expect more such cases in the coming years. Experts call for stricter pollution control measures, better indoor ventilation, and increased funding for genetic cancer screening and public health education.
As these cases indicate, even those who follow healthy habits are not immune from cancer risks posed by environmental and hereditary factors.
