Lung cancer misconceptions: the facts behind the myths
Despite being one of the most common cancers in the world, there are many misconceptions and myths about lung cancer. These can cause people with lung cancer and their families significant unnecessary stress and affect how they deal with and manage the disease.
Anyone having to cope with a lung cancer diagnosis should feel accepted, understood and supported. By dispelling some of the most common myths and knowing the facts, we can help more people overcome the stigma and uncertainty associated with lung cancer.
Click below to see the facts and learn more about lung cancer.
Only people who smoke get lung cancer.
Anyone can get lung cancer. While smoking is the biggest risk factor, approximately 10-20% of people diagnosed with lung cancer have never smoked.1
Lung cancer mostly affects men.
Lung cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women. The rate of new lung cancer cases (incidence) has nearly doubled in women but slightly dropped in men over the last 40 years.2,3
All lung cancers are the same.
Although we use the singular term ‘lung cancer’, it is a complex disease.There are two main types – non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer – which can be split into numerous subtypes.4 Biomarker testing helps doctors understand the specific characteristics of a tumour so that they can make more informed treatment decisions.5-7
All lung cancer patients have a cough.
Around half of people diagnosed with lung cancer have a cough at diagnosis. Many people do not present with a cough, and some have no symptoms at all – particularly during the early stages of disease.8,9 Learn more about the
Lung cancer only affects the lungs.
Lung cancer can spread to other parts of the body. While lung cancer originates in the lung, it can spread (metastasise) to other parts of the body, such as the liver or the brain.10
Lung cancer only affects older people.
Lung cancer affects people of all ages. Although lung cancer is more common in older people, around a third (29%) of new cases and deaths (26%) occur in those aged under 65.11
Once lung cancer spreads it becomes untreatable.
There are many treatment options available for advanced disease. Once lung cancer spreads it is more difficult to treat and is not typically curable – however, it can be treated, and new options, such as targeted therapies and immunotherapies, have shown improved survival rates.12
References
Macmillan Cancer Support. Causes and risk factors of lung cancer. Available from:
Accessed August 2024 World Health Organisation. World Globocan 2022. Available from:
Accessed August 2024. Howlader N, Noone AM, Krapcho M, Miller D, Brest A, Yu M, Ruhl J, Tatalovich Z, Mariotto A, Lewis DR, Chen HS, Feuer EJ, Cronin KA (eds). SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2018, National Cancer Institute.
Cancer.net. Information about Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Available from:
Accessed August 2024. Pakkala S. and Ramalingam S.S. Personalized therapy for lung cancer: striking a moving target. JCI insight. 2018;3(15).
National Cancer Institute. Biomarker Testing for Cancer Treatment. Available at:
Accessed August 2024. National Cancer Institute. Dictionary of Cancer Terms. Definition of Biomarker. Available at:
Accessed August 2024. Cancer Research UK. Symptoms of lung cancer. Available from:
Accessed August 2024. NHS. Lung Cancer: Symptoms. Available from:
Accessed August 2024. National Cancer Institute. Cancer Terms: Micrometastasis. Available from:
Accessed August 2024. National Cancer Institute. Cancer Facts: Lung and Bronchus Cancer. Available at:
Accessed August 2024. NHS. Lung Cancer: Treatment. Available from:
Accessed August 2024.