Lung cancer is usually blamed on smoking, but a significant number of instances occur in non-smokers who have never seen the inside of a cigarette package. The American Cancer Society says that about 20% of lung cancer deaths occur in non-smokers. This leads us to ask: why are these non-smokers getting lung cancer, and why are they at risk?

Though smoking is still the primary cause of lung cancer, studies indicate that environmental, genetic, and occupational factors combined are also responsible for the development of the disease. The MD Anderson Cancer Center and other research facilities throughout the U.S. have been conducting intensive research into why lung cancer affects non-smokers and how the disease differs from smoking-induced cancer.

The majority of lung cancers that are diagnosed in never-smokers are non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC), accounting for approximately 85% of all lung cancers. Of these, adenocarcinoma is the most frequent subtype among non-smokers. Scientists have found that close to 30% of NSCLC occurrences among non-smokers are caused by genetic mutations, which can be treated with targeted therapies.

Key Genetic Factors in Non-Smoker Lung Cancer Cases

Lung cancer in people who have never smoked is typically associated with particular genetic mutations. Two of the most important biomarkers are:

EGFR mutations: EGFR mutations account for approximately 10-15% of lung cancer in the U.S. and are more frequently found in non-smokers, especially in females and Asian patients.

ALK gene rearrangements: This mutation is found in approximately 5% of lung cancers and can be treated with certain drugs that inhibit the activity of the abnormal protein.

These genetic determinants suggest that non-smoker lung cancer patients could be more responsive to targeted therapies, bringing new hope to treatment possibilities.

Environmental and Occupational Risk Factors

Even though one does not smoke, most are exposed to substances that cause lung cancer. There are various environmental and occupational causes that have been discovered:

Radon Exposure

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that emanates from the ground and can build up in houses, particularly in basements and poorly ventilated areas. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that radon exposure leads to approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths each year. Research has established a strong link between elevated radon levels and lung cancer among non-smokers.

Why is Secondhand Smoke A Significant Threat?

Even for someone who never smoked, years of exposure to secondhand smoke greatly raises lung cancer risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are an estimated 7,000 deaths from lung cancer every year due to secondhand smoke. Smokers' partners, family members, and colleagues are particularly susceptible to breathing in dangerous chemicals from cigarette smoke.

Air Pollution and Industrial Toxins

Long-term exposure to air pollution, such as vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions, has been associated with a higher risk of lung cancer. A 2013 report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) identified outdoor air pollution as a carcinogen, highlighting the contribution of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) to lung cancer.

Exposure to these substances in the workplace, such as asbestos, arsenic, and diesel exhaust, also puts one at greater risk. People who work in construction, manufacturing, and mining are especially susceptible to inhaling these cancer-causing particles.

Family History and Genetic Susceptibility

Family history of lung cancer in non-smokers also places them at greater risk, with a possible genetic component. In case a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) has developed lung cancer, especially at a younger age, the risk factor for developing the disease is elevated. This also points to inherited genetic mutations potentially making some individuals more vulnerable to lung cancer.

Identifying Symptoms

Symptoms of lung cancer are usually mild and may be confused with other illnesses, so it is frequently diagnosed late in the majority of instances. The usual symptoms are:

• Chronic cough or increasing cough over time
• Sputum containing blood
• Chest discomfort or pain
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Wheezing
• Weight loss without an obvious cause
• Weakness
• Hoarseness or swallowing difficulty
• Recurrent infections of the lungs

Since non-smokers usually do not see themselves as being at risk for lung cancer, they might postpone medical care until the disease advances to a severe stage before being diagnosed.

Can You Lower Your Risk of Lung Cancer?

Though some risk factors, like heredity, cannot be modified, there are a number of proactive measures that you can do to reduce your risk of lung cancer. One of the most significant steps is to have your home tested for radon, as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) highly recommends, particularly in high-radon areas. Long-term exposure to this odorless gas can cause a high risk of lung cancer, and early detection is vital. Also, staying away from secondhand smoke is crucial. If you reside with a smoker, persuading them to quit or having proper ventilation to reduce exposure can safeguard your lungs. Lessening exposure to toxic pollutants is another crucial step—sitting indoors with air purifiers and using protective masks while working in risk-prone places can reduce the inhalation of harmful chemicals.

Lastly, a healthy way of life plays an important part in lung health. A healthy diet of fruits and vegetables, exercise regularly, and refraining from known carcinogens can make your immune system strong and help lung function in general. Using all these preventive steps can contribute significantly to lowering the risk of lung cancer and improving respiratory health. Who is Eligible for Lung Cancer Screening?

Today the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force screens for lung cancer only in individuals with a smoking history. What this implies is that non-smokers are usually not screened, except when there are symptoms or other risk indicators. There is an argument though that those who have a large family history and high exposure to radon are also worth early screening.

Lung cancer is not solely a disease of smokers. With increasing incidence in non-smokers, it's essential to know about different risk factors and take preventive action wherever feasible. If you have persistent symptoms, see your doctor to eliminate any possible serious conditions. Early detection is the strongest defense against lung cancer, irrespective of smoking status.

Commonly nicknamed the “Asian glow” or “Asian flush,” alcohol flush reaction is a physical response to drinking alcohol seen predominantly in people of East Asian descent.

This condition is marked by a reddening of the face, increased heart rate, and sometimes nausea or headaches shortly after consuming alcohol.

About 560 million people worldwide, which makes it roughly 8% of the global population, carry a genetic mutation called ALDH2*2 that causes this reaction. An estimated 45% of East Asians experience flushing when they drink, and many use antihistamines to mask the symptoms.

But researchers warn that these visible reactions are more than just a cosmetic issue, they’re a red flag indicating a heightened vulnerability to serious diseases.

What Causes It?

The root cause of alcohol flush reaction lies in how alcohol is metabolized in the body.

Normally, alcohol is broken down in two steps.

• First, it is converted into acetaldehyde, a compound far more toxic than alcohol itself.
• Then, acetaldehyde is quickly broken down into acetate by an enzyme called aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2), which the body can safely eliminate.

However, in people with the ALDH2*2 mutation, this second step is impaired. Their version of the ALDH2 enzyme has little to no activity, causing acetaldehyde to accumulate in the bloodstream. This toxic buildup is what leads to the flushing and other symptoms.

The World Health Organization classifies acetaldehyde as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning there is strong evidence that it causes cancer in humans. Even with moderate alcohol intake—such as two beers, the acetaldehyde levels in people with this mutation can reach carcinogenic levels.

Why It’s Dangerous

While many consider alcohol flush reaction an inconvenience, the health risks it signals are far more serious. Experts have linked the ALDH2*2 mutation with significantly elevated risks for several life-threatening conditions if alcohol consumption continues.

People with the mutation who drink moderately (defined as two drinks per day for men and one for women) have a 40 to 80 times higher risk of developing esophageal cancer compared to those without the mutation. The risk increases with the amount of alcohol consumed, making it a dose-dependent danger.

The mutation is also associated with higher risks of:

• Head and neck cancers
• Gastric (stomach) cancer
• Coronary artery disease
• Stroke
• Osteoporosis

Importantly, these elevated health risks are not seen in non-drinkers with the same mutation, highlighting that alcohol intake is the trigger.

Why Antihistamines Don’t Help

Many young people, particularly college students, take over-the-counter antihistamines like Pepcid AC or Zantac to reduce the visible symptoms of alcohol flush reaction. While these drugs may lessen skin flushing by reducing blood vessel dilation, they do nothing to prevent the dangerous accumulation of acetaldehyde in the bloodstream.

Experts caution that using antihistamines this way is risky. By masking the body’s warning signals, individuals may end up drinking more than they should, unknowingly increasing their health risks.

A Problem of Awareness

Despite the potentially deadly consequences, awareness of the ALDH2*2 mutation remains low.

The variant is believed to have originated from a single individual in Southeast China 2,000 to 3,000 years ago. Today, its prevalence is highest in Taiwan (49 percent), Japan (40 percent), China (35 percent), and South Korea (30 percent). Yet, alcohol consumption in East Asia continues to rise.

Between 1990 and 2017, alcohol use in East Asia increased from 48.4 percent to 66.9 percent. The region now bears the highest burden of alcohol-attributable cancers globally, with 5.7 percent of all cancer cases linked to alcohol, nearly double the rate in North America.

Many people still believe that facial flushing from alcohol is harmless or even a sign of a strong liver. In fact, it’s a clear signal of toxicity and should not be ignored.

Raising Public Education and Health Literacy

Efforts to raise awareness are growing. In Taiwan, researchers and health advocates founded the Taiwan Alcohol Intolerance Education Society, which collaborates with government agencies to educate the public. The group launched National Taiwan No Alcohol Day on May 9, with “5-9” sounding like “no alcohol” in Mandarin, a clever linguistic nudge toward abstinence, as reported by the Washington Post.

Research also suggests that personalized health information can help. A study conducted among Asian American young adults found that those who were informed about their genetic risks related to the ALDH2*2 variant reduced both their drinking frequency and volume over the following month.

Experts emphasize that the message is clear: if you experience alcohol flush reaction, your body is sounding an alarm. Ignoring it may come at a serious cost.

A disease that can strip somebody of their memories, the way they think, even their core beliefs and personality, Alzheimer’s affect millions of people throughout the world. It is estimated to affect 6 million Americans by the US National Institute of Aging, most of whom are older than 65 or older. While treatment for Alzheimer's does exist, they usually treat the symptoms as there is no cure.

However, a new study suggests that insulin delivered through a nasal spray could be a future treatment for Alzheimer's disease. Researchers found that this insulin effectively reached important memory parts of the brain in a small group of older adults. Their findings were published on July 23 in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions.

Why Insulin for Alzheimer's?

Scientists are looking at insulin as a possible way to treat Alzheimer's because it's thought to improve brain activity. It's already known that insulin resistance (when the body doesn't respond well to insulin) is a risk factor for Alzheimer's. However, past research struggled to confirm if insulin given through the nose actually made it to the right places in the brain.

Direct Path to the Brain

They used brain scans to show that insulin given through the nose traveled to 11 key brain areas. These areas are important for memory and thinking. An interesting discovery was that people who were just starting to show signs of memory problems absorbed the insulin differently than others.

A lead researcher explained that this study fills a big gap in our understanding of how insulin given through the nose reaches the brain. This person also noted that finding different absorption rates in people with early memory issues was a surprise. This means scientists are no longer guessing; they now have a clear path or "roadmap" directly to the brain.

How the Study Was Done and What It Found

Researchers used brain scans on 16 older adults, who were about 72 years old on average. Seven of them had normal thinking skills, and nine had mild memory problems. All of them used the insulin nasal spray, and they said it was easy to use.

The scans clearly showed that insulin levels went up in important memory and thinking parts of the brain, like the hippocampus (which helps with memory), the amygdala (involved in emotions and memory), and other brain regions.

The study also found that people with healthy brains absorbed more insulin compared to those with mild memory issues. For women in the study, better heart health seemed to lead to better insulin absorption in the brain. On the other hand, individuals who had higher levels of a substance called amyloid beta (which is a sign of increased Alzheimer's risk) absorbed less insulin in many parts of their brain.

Only two people mentioned minor headaches after using the spray and getting their scan, which suggests the treatment is generally well-tolerated and doesn't cause many side effects.

Future Steps and Hope for Treatments

A lead researcher pointed out that one of the biggest challenges in treating brain diseases is getting medications to actually enter the brain. This study proves that they can now reliably check if nasal spray systems are delivering the medicine effectively. This is a very important step before they can start larger trials to test the treatment's effectiveness.

The findings also help explain why some patients might respond better to insulin given through the nose than others. The researcher stressed that there is an urgent need to find effective and easy ways to prevent and treat Alzheimer's. These results mean scientists now have the tools to confirm if treatments are reaching their intended brain targets, which is vital for designing successful studies.

The research team plans to conduct bigger studies within the next one to two years. They want to investigate other factors that might affect how insulin gets to the brain, such as the health of blood vessels, the presence of amyloid beta clumps, and differences between men and women. The researcher concluded by saying that while there's still a lot to learn, these findings are promising for creating more effective and easy-to-use treatments for Alzheimer's disease.

‘Fight through cancer’, ‘you can’t let cancer kick you down’ are things survivors and people who have had recent cancer diagnosis. While it is a good sentiment, one must understand that cancer is difficult a difficult process to go through. However, this young college student did not let this stop her.

LaShae Rolle, a 27-year-old competitive powerlifter, can squat a massive 441 pounds, bench press 292 pounds, and deadlift 497 pounds. Last year, breast cancer threatened her dreams of competing against the best. But Rolle didn't let it stop her. She powered through her cancer treatment, maintaining an intense strength training program all along. And then, she wrote a study about her experience.

Lifting Through Treatment

Rolle, who is studying public health sciences at the University of Miami, became the subject of her own unique study. She documented her journey of elite-level strength training while undergoing chemotherapy, a mastectomy (breast removal surgery), and radiation.

Her study, published in the journal Lifestyle Medicine, challenges the common belief that cancer patients should only do low or moderate exercise. Rolle explained that strength training was key to her identity as an athlete and researcher. During her cancer journey, it helped her feel connected to herself and in control of her body and mind.

By the end of her treatment, Rolle had managed to keep almost all the strength she had before her cancer diagnosis. She proudly stated that she kept going, adapting her workouts around her chemotherapy cycles to train safely. This physical activity gave her a sense of normalcy when everything else felt uncertain.

Why This Research Matters

Previous studies have shown that moderate exercise can help cancer patients by reducing tiredness, improving physical ability, and easing treatment side effects. However, that research usually focused on average people doing regular workouts, not elite athletes trying to maintain high-intensity efforts during treatment.

In the Miller School of Medicine news release, Tracy Crane, a director at the University of Miami's Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Rolle's mentor, emphasized that Rolle's story is a powerful reminder that recovery from cancer isn't just about getting better; it's about regaining strength, identity, and purpose. She added that Rolle's commitment to powerlifting shows how movement can be a way to heal, empower, and advocate for oneself.

Rolle's Training Plan and Impressive Results

Rolle was diagnosed with stage 2B breast cancer in 2024. Her cancer was fueled by female hormones, and she didn't have a genetic link to the disease. Her colleagues at the University of Miami helped her create a strength training plan that fit around her chemotherapy schedule:

• High-intensity days were planned before her chemo sessions, focusing on squats, bench press, and deadlifts.
• Moderate days between chemo cycles included exercises like rows and shoulder presses.
• Recovery days immediately after chemo involved light movement and therapy.

By the end of her treatment, Rolle had retained an incredible 93% of her squat strength and 87% of her bench press and deadlift strength. These are remarkable numbers for someone going through chemotherapy. Rolle kept herself accountable by documenting everything with videos and in a training diary, which reminded her of her ongoing strength. She expressed amazement looking back at videos of herself lifting over 400 pounds while on chemotherapy.

Researchers note that these specific findings mainly apply to elite athletes who already have a background in high-intensity training, rather than the average cancer patient. However, Rolle believes her study highlights the importance of creating treatment plans tailored to each patient's needs. She is motivated to continue lifting and to advocate for evidence-based exercise as a key part of cancer care.