Why are the majority of Indian lung cancer patients nonsmokers
Experts said on Thursday that even among nonsmokers, lung cancer cases are rising due to air pollution, secondhand smoke exposure, occupational hazards, and indoor pollutants like cooking fumes.
According to a recent study that was published in the eClinical Medicine Journal of the Lancet, the ratio of Indian lung cancer research output to global research output is 0.51.
According to the findings of the study, people in India develop lung cancer ten years earlier than people in Western nations, where the average age at diagnosis is between 54 and 70.
It could also be due to India's younger population, whose median age is 28.2 years, as opposed to 38 years in the United States and 39 years in China.
Dr. spoke to IANS. According to Shrinidhi Nathany of Fortis Memorial Research Institute's Department of Molecular Hematology and Oncology, high PM 2.5 levels are also linked to an increased risk of lung cancer among nonsmokers in Southeast Asia.
Dr. Nathany went on to say that "a large portion of Indians due to passive smoking and genetic/hereditary susceptibility" are affected by lung cancer.
The doctor noted that the three-digit PM 2.5 levels in urban India and Delhi, also known as the pollution capital, significantly contribute to tumorigenesis, or the development of cancer.
Dr. “To factors such as air pollution, exposure to secondhand smoke, occupational hazards, and indoor pollutants like cooking fumes,” said Ashish Gupta, Chief of Medical Oncology at Unique Hospital Cancer Centre, who also noted the alarming trend of lung cancer cases in India.
According to the experts, strict air quality regulations, raising public awareness about the dangers of secondhand smoke and environmental pollutants, and promoting regular screenings for high-risk groups are essential for mitigating this growing health problem.
Dr. Shrinidhi went on to say that regular screening of people who are more likely to get cancer and live in polluted cities, farmers who are exposed to harmful pesticides, and people who have a strong personal or family history of cancer could help with early detection. However, she stressed that being informed was the most important thing a person could do to help with this problem.
