Summary
Rising lung cancer in young, non-smoking women puzzles doctors; research on potential pregnancy link and new causes is crucial for prevention and early detection.
Lung cancer is happening more often in young women who have never smoked. Doctors are not sure why. More non-smoking women in their 20s, 30s and 40s are being diagnosed. Usually lung cancer is found in older smokers.
One young mom named Amanda was diagnosed at age 36. She had been pregnant at 16 and wondered if that played a role. Some researchers think pregnancy might raise the risk for lung cancer down the road, especially if women are younger. More studies are needed to confirm this link. Cases like Amanda have doctors looking into new potential causes of lung cancer in young women. More research on this rising trend is important. Learning why non-smokers are getting lung cancer could lead to better ways to prevent and treat it.
Researchers advise women of any age with lung symptoms to push for answers and testing. Catching lung cancer early in non-smokers gives them the best survival odds.
