Number of non-smokers with lung cancer on the rise

The number of non-smokers who develop lung cancer is growing every year.

There are 170,000 cases of lung cancer in the United States each year, and 10% of those are found in non-smokers.

Wanda Carmichael has worked in the restaurant industry for more than 2 decades. She was diagnosed with lung cancer last year.

She said, “My sister, brother, and my friends smoke and on jobs they smoke, but I never smoke. Even going to clubs, they smoke, but I never smoke.”

Carmichael said she did not know non-smokers could develop lung cancer.

Dr. Kenneth Fink, Carmichael’s Oncologist, said, “It’s really caught our interest, this other 10% that are not smokers.”

Carmichael said nonsmokers seem to have a better prognosis compared with the smokers who get lung cancer due to better overall health.

Carmichael takes an oral treatment for her cancer which she said has been very beneficial.

Today Carmichael is feeling good. She said she now works during the day to avoid heavier amounts of smoke.