Lung Cancer Stigma and Growing Cases Among Non‑Smokers in Europe

In 2022 the National Oncology Registry recorded 5,450 new lung‑cancer cases in the Iberian region, making it the second most common cancer. Men accounted for 3,777 cases and women for 1,673, with incidence peaking at ages 70‑74. Over three‑quarters of lung‑cancer cases are linked to tobacco use, and the disease remains the leading cause of cancer death. Stigma surrounding the diagnosis – blame, social exclusion and fear of judgment – often delays medical help, increases isolation and worsens psychological distress, especially among younger patients, the unemployed and those with lower education.

In France about 50,000 new lung‑cancer cases are diagnosed each year. The proportion of cases in never‑smokers rose from 7.2 % in 2000 to 12.6 % in 2020, with 80‑90 % of these occurring in women. Experts, including Prof. Nicolas Girard of the Institut Curie, note that hormonal factors may play a role. Non‑smoker tumours are typically adenocarcinomas and often harbour specific genetic alterations: EGFR mutations appear in roughly 50 % of such tumours, ALK alterations in about 20 % and ROS1 in around 15 %. Air‑pollution particles (PM2.5) are also implicated in the rising incidence among non‑smokers.