Thoracic surgeon Dr Ioana Baiu has noticed an alarming trend among her lung cancer patients: many are younger, often in their 20s or 30s, and a significant number are women who have never smoked. “Traditionally, we saw older men who smoked, but now about 20 percent of patients are nonsmokers,” says Dr Baiu, who practices at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center (OSUCC) – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (The James).
This shift underscores an important message: smoking is not the only cause of lung cancer, and early screening can save lives.
The Growing Threat of Lung Cancer
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, responsible for 1.8 million deaths globally in 2022. While smoking remains the primary cause—accounting for 80 to 90 percent of cases—a growing number of patients diagnosed with the disease have little or no smoking history. Dr Baiu notes that lung cancer can take years to develop, and the percentage of nonsmokers diagnosed with the disease is expected to rise in the coming years.
Aside from smoking, the second-leading cause of lung cancer is radon exposure. According to Dr Vincent Daniel, a thoracic surgeon at OhioHealth, radon is a colorless, odorless gas that seeps into buildings from the ground. Prolonged exposure to high radon levels significantly raises cancer risk. In states where radon exposure is common, homeowners are encouraged to test their properties using radon home testing kits, which may be available for free or at discounted rates through health departments or other organizations.
Other risk factors include exposure to secondhand smoke, air pollution, and hazardous chemicals, as well as genetic predispositions. “There are a lot of environmental exposures we don’t fully understand, and we haven’t identified all the genetic mutations associated with lung cancer,” says Daniel.
How Screening Saves Lives
Fortunately, screening offers hope. For over a decade, low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans have been available to detect lung cancer in its earliest stages, when it is most treatable. This 30-second test can identify small lung lesions long before they cause symptoms, allowing for early intervention. Annual screenings are recommended for individuals aged 50 to 80 years who have smoked a pack a day for 20 years or quit within the last 15 years. The test is generally covered by insurance.
Symptoms of lung cancer—such as chronic coughing, hoarseness, weight loss, and chest pain—usually appear only in advanced stages, underscoring the importance of early detection. “If you already have symptoms, it’s a little late,” says Dr Talya Greathouse, vice president of medical affairs at Licking Memorial Hospital. “The key is to get screened.”
Expanding Access to Screening
To address barriers to care, The Ohio State University launched a mobile CT unit in September 2025. This unit travels to underserved areas and community events, providing screenings to those who may not have easy access to healthcare facilities. Patients preregister and complete a telehealth appointment before the unit arrives, and the scan itself takes only a few minutes. Results are reviewed by experts, ensuring timely follow-up if necessary.
Despite the availability of this life-saving test, national screening rates remain low. According to the American Lung Association, only 18.2 percent of high-risk individuals were screened for lung cancer in 2025. Dr Jasleen Pannu, director of the Lung Cancer Early Detection Program at The James at OSUCC, emphasizes the importance of screenings. “One life is saved for every 320 people screened,” she says. “It’s the most successful cancer screening available.”
Looking Ahead
Dr Baiu and other experts hope that screening recommendations will expand to include individuals with risk factors beyond smoking, such as radon exposure or a family history of lung cancer. Currently, most insurance companies only cover screenings for smokers or recent former smokers.
“Your survival rate is drastically different if your cancer is caught at stage 1,” Dr Baiu explains. At stage 1, the five-year survival rate is 90 percent. By stage 4, that figure drops to just 20 percent. Early detection is key to improving outcomes and saving lives.
Through increased awareness, better access to screening, and ongoing research into environmental and genetic risk factors, healthcare providers aim to reduce the devastating toll of lung cancer and give more patients a fighting chance.
Source:
Gray KL. Doctors say lung cancer diagnoses are rising in young, nonsmoking women. Columbus Monthly. Published April 14, 2026. Accessed April 15, 2026.
Thoracic surgeon Dr Ioana Baiu has noticed an alarming trend among her lung cancer patients: many are younger, often in their 20s or 30s, and a significant number are women who have never smoked. “Traditionally, we saw older men who smoked, but now about 20 percent of patients are nonsmokers,” says Dr Baiu, who practices at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center (OSUCC) – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (The James).
This shift underscores an important message: smoking is not the only cause of lung cancer, and early screening can save lives.
The Growing Threat of Lung Cancer
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, responsible for 1.8 million deaths globally in 2022. While smoking remains the primary cause—accounting for 80 to 90 percent of cases—a growing number of patients diagnosed with the disease have little or no smoking history. Dr Baiu notes that lung cancer can take years to develop, and the percentage of nonsmokers diagnosed with the disease is expected to rise in the coming years.
Aside from smoking, the second-leading cause of lung cancer is radon exposure. According to Dr Vincent Daniel, a thoracic surgeon at OhioHealth, radon is a colorless, odorless gas that seeps into buildings from the ground. Prolonged exposure to high radon levels significantly raises cancer risk. In states where radon exposure is common, homeowners are encouraged to test their properties using radon home testing kits, which may be available for free or at discounted rates through health departments or other organizations.
Other risk factors include exposure to secondhand smoke, air pollution, and hazardous chemicals, as well as genetic predispositions. “There are a lot of environmental exposures we don’t fully understand, and we haven’t identified all the genetic mutations associated with lung cancer,” says Daniel.
How Screening Saves Lives
Fortunately, screening offers hope. For over a decade, low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans have been available to detect lung cancer in its earliest stages, when it is most treatable. This 30-second test can identify small lung lesions long before they cause symptoms, allowing for early intervention. Annual screenings are recommended for individuals aged 50 to 80 years who have smoked a pack a day for 20 years or quit within the last 15 years. The test is generally covered by insurance.
Symptoms of lung cancer—such as chronic coughing, hoarseness, weight loss, and chest pain—usually appear only in advanced stages, underscoring the importance of early detection. “If you already have symptoms, it’s a little late,” says Dr Talya Greathouse, vice president of medical affairs at Licking Memorial Hospital. “The key is to get screened.”
Expanding Access to Screening
To address barriers to care, The Ohio State University launched a mobile CT unit in September 2025. This unit travels to underserved areas and community events, providing screenings to those who may not have easy access to healthcare facilities. Patients preregister and complete a telehealth appointment before the unit arrives, and the scan itself takes only a few minutes. Results are reviewed by experts, ensuring timely follow-up if necessary.
Despite the availability of this life-saving test, national screening rates remain low. According to the American Lung Association, only 18.2 percent of high-risk individuals were screened for lung cancer in 2025. Dr Jasleen Pannu, director of the Lung Cancer Early Detection Program at The James at OSUCC, emphasizes the importance of screenings. “One life is saved for every 320 people screened,” she says. “It’s the most successful cancer screening available.”
Looking Ahead
Dr Baiu and other experts hope that screening recommendations will expand to include individuals with risk factors beyond smoking, such as radon exposure or a family history of lung cancer. Currently, most insurance companies only cover screenings for smokers or recent former smokers.
“Your survival rate is drastically different if your cancer is caught at stage 1,” Dr Baiu explains. At stage 1, the five-year survival rate is 90 percent. By stage 4, that figure drops to just 20 percent. Early detection is key to improving outcomes and saving lives.
Through increased awareness, better access to screening, and ongoing research into environmental and genetic risk factors, healthcare providers aim to reduce the devastating toll of lung cancer and give more patients a fighting chance.
Source:
Gray KL. Doctors say lung cancer diagnoses are rising in young, nonsmoking women. Columbus Monthly. Published April 14, 2026. Accessed April 15, 2026.
