12 Jul 2024 • Recent findings have uncovered a startling reality: non-smoking Indians develop lung cancer nearly a decade earlier than their Western counterparts.

• In a country where lung cancer accounts for 5.8% of cancer cases and claims 7.8% of lives, more than half of the patients affected are non-smokers. What's more intriguing is that air pollution, particularly PM2.5, has emerged as a leading cause, surpassing tobacco use. The average age range for lung cancer diagnosis in India, between 54 and 70 years, is approximately ten years earlier than the typical age range observed in Western nations.

• Adding to the complexity are cases where tuberculosis (TB) and lung cancer coexist, a common occurrence in Southeast Asia.

These insights highlight a pressing need for tailored public health strategies to address India's unique challenges in combating lung cancer among non-smokers.

Source:TOI| Read full story