Rising Lung Cancer in Nonsmokers Prompts Global and Thai Health Response
A sharp rise in lung cancer among people who have never smoked is reshaping cancer research and public health discussions. Clinicians and researchers are racing to understand why this diagnosis is becoming more common, with many tumors detected incidentally and lacking obvious causes.
Lung cancer has long been linked to tobacco use, yet an increasing share of new patients in many countries are nonsmokers. This shift challenges traditional prevention messages and calls for broader attention to environmental, genetic, and occupational risk factors. The implications for Thailand are clear: lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer deaths, while air quality often fails to meet safety standards in major cities.