Lung cancer is becoming more common in people who don't smoke. Scientists are trying to find out why this is happening.
Even though fewer people are smoking cigarettes, lung cancer is still the biggest cause of death from cancer in the United States.

New research shows that lung cancer is increasing among people who have never smoked, especially women and people from Asian backgrounds.
Scientists believe that air pollution, ultra-processed foods, and exposure to certain chemicals and fumes could be the reasons.

Smoking isn't the only thing that can cause lung cancer.
The CDC says that 10% to 20% of lung cancer cases happen in people who never smoked or smoked very little.
Recent studies have found that some lung cancers in people who never smoked may be linked to exposure to air pollutants, such as car exhaust, toxic chemicals, and cooking fumes.

Another study found that ultra-processed foods might also be connected to lung cancer in non-smokers.
The authors think the risk could come from poor diet quality, chemicals in food packaging, and harmful substances like acrolein found in processed foods, grilled meats, and cigarette smoke.
Lori Sakoda, a research scientist at Kaiser Permanente, said this study couldn't prove that ultra-processed food causes lung cancer, but the findings are interesting and need to be checked in other groups of people.


It's very important to find out what causes lung cancer because it's often not found until it's too late to treat easily.

Sakoda also said it's important to change how people think about lung cancer.
She said anyone can get it, no matter if they smoked or not, and that no one should have to suffer from this disease.

Right now, the only recommended screening for lung cancer is a low-dose CT scan for people aged 50 to 80 who have a strong history of smoking.

But only about 15% of people who should get screened actually do.
Alpa Patel, a leader at the American Cancer Society, said it's important to raise awareness about these recommendations.
Insurance usually only pays for screenings if a person meets the guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
These guidelines are connected to the Affordable Care Act. The American Cancer Society doesn't recommend screenings outside these guidelines because of the risks like radiation, false results, and possible harm from tests like biopsies and surgery.
Whole-body scans are popular, but they're not a good way to find lung cancer.
They can expose people to radiation and cost at least $2,500.
David Hill, a doctor and leader of the American Lung Association, said that as more data comes in, screening rules might change.


The CDC says that the symptoms of lung cancer are similar whether someone smokes or not.
These symptoms include feeling tired, coughing up blood, chest pain, wheezing, and trouble breathing.