There are nuances and complexities about lung cancer that are easy to miss, even if you read all you can about it. Learning about lung cancer when you or someone you love is diagnosed with this condition can help prepare you for what lies ahead.

Consider these facts to help you as you navigate your lung cancer journey.

1. Smoking Isn’t the Only Cause of Lung Cancer

Smoking cigarettes causes approximately 90 percent of lung cancer cases in the United States, according to the American Lung Association. It’s the leading cause of lung cancer and the No. 1 risk factor for developing it. However, it’s not the only cause.

A study of lung cancer risk factors worldwide found that genetic factors, diet, air pollution, and occupational (workplace) exposures may contribute to the development of lung cancer. These other causes help explain why lung cancer is still relatively common — even among people who are quitting smoking or never started.

Research is ongoing as to how diet may impact lung cancer risk. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), some evidence indicates that beta-carotene supplements may increase the risk of lung cancer in people who smoke heavily. Other supplements and natural therapies may help manage some symptoms of lung cancer.

Regarding occupational exposures, workers have the right to question their employers about how clean the air is (or was) at their jobs. Some examples of occupational exposures include:

• Asbestos
• Metals such as chromium and nickel
• Radon gas
• Silica
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (chemicals released during combustion of organic materials)
• Diesel exhaust

Secondhand smoke is also a cause of lung cancer. Researchers say no level of secondhand smoke exposure is completely free of risk.

2. Some Lung Cancer Risk Factors Are Unique to Women

Each year, more men than women get diagnosed with lung cancer. So it’s an interesting fact that more women than men live with lung cancer, according to data from the NCI. Furthermore, studies have shown an increased rate of lung cancer cases among females who have never smoked, according to cancer research in ESMO Open.

The reason for these trends remains unclear. Biologic factors, such as hormonal influences, may play a role. Especially since lung cancer during pregnancy is uncommon. Other factors contributing to this trend might involve genetic influences, or exposures in the environment or in workplaces that females encounter more often than males.

Researchers believe that more data is needed to fully illuminate risk factors for lung cancer that are unique to females.

3. Lung Cancer Occurs in a Variety of Age Groups

Lung cancer is most often seen in older people — the average age of lung cancer diagnosis is 70 years old. However, young people are affected as well. Ten percent of lung cancer cases occur in people younger than 55 years old. Some people get lung cancer in their 20s.

Studies on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) show that younger people (ages 20 to 46) with lung cancer are more likely to be female and to not smoke. In addition, they typically get diagnosed when their lung cancer is more advanced. The good news is that young people with NSCLC tend to have a better prognosis, or outlook, with better outcomes seen when the cancer is found and treated in the early stages.

4. Chemotherapy Isn’t Always Necessary for People With Lung Cancer

Lung cancer treatment options are very different depending on the type of cancer. There are two main types of lung cancer: non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

NSCLC accounts for approximately 80 percent to 85 percent of all lung cancer cases.

NSCLC is further broken down into subtypes, including:

• Adenocarcinoma
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Large cell carcinoma

There are also other rare subtypes. They’re grouped this way because their treatments are usually similar. SCLC is less common, representing about 10 percent to 15 percent of all lung cancers.

People with NSCLC can be treated with:

• Surgery
• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Targeted therapy
• A combination of the above

According to the American Cancer Society, surgery may be the only treatment needed for NSCLC that qualifies as early-stage lung cancer (stages 0 through 2). People with advanced NSCLC may be treated with targeted therapy or immunotherapy without the need for chemotherapy.

On the other hand, SCLC can spread rapidly and has often spread by the time it’s found, so chemotherapy is usually part of a treatment plan.

The bottom line is that, while many people often associate chemotherapy with cancer, it isn’t always the answer for lung cancer and depends on factors like the type of cancer, early detection versus late detection, and stage.

5. Lung Cancer Rates Are Going Down

The rate of new cases of lung cancer is on the decline, as is the rate of deaths from the disease. From 2010 to 2019, the age-adjusted rate for new lung and bronchus cancer cases in the U.S. decreased by an average of 2 percent each year. In addition, the age-adjusted death rates have been falling an average of 4.1 percent each year over the same period, and five-year survival rates are increasing.

The decline can be attributed to better prevention of lung cancer, such as reduced smoking rates, and to improved treatment, including targeted drug therapies. These decreases in cases and deaths highlight the fact that researchers and doctors are learning more about how to help people reduce their risk of lung cancer. They also mean that health care professionals and oncology experts are learning more about treating people with lung cancer so that they can receive better care and live longer, healthier lives.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On MyLungCancerTeam — the social network for people with lung cancer and their loved ones — more than 12,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with lung cancer.

Which fact about lung cancer do you find the most compelling? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.