Health
Never smoked? You could still be at risk of developing lung cancer, doctors warn
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Lung cancer, the second-most common cancer in the U.S., is often associated with smoking — but even those who have never had a cigarette could be at risk of the deadly disease.
While it’s true that those who smoke face a much higher risk, up to 20% of lung cancers affect people who have never smoked or have smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Despite this, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) does not recommend lung cancer screening for those who have never smoked, as the agency states the risks may outweigh the potential benefits.
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Most lung cancers fall into two groups: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), according to the American Cancer Society.
NSCLC, which encompasses about 80% to 85% of all lung cancers, includes adenocarcinoma (common in non-smokers), squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma.
Up to 20% of lung cancers affect people who have never smoked or have smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime. (iStock)
The remaining lung cancers are classified as SCLC, a more aggressive type that tends to spread faster and has a poorer prognosis.
Mohamed Abazeed, M.D., Ph.D., chair of radiation oncology and the William N. Brand Professor at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, agrees that the share of lung cancers diagnosed in never-smokers is increasing, particularly among women and patients of Asian ancestry.
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“While overall incidence is declining due to reduced smoking rates, the relative share of never-smokers is growing and is reflected in clinical practice, where we increasingly diagnose patients without a traditional smoking history,” he told Fox News Digital.
Dr. Lauren Nicola, a practicing radiologist and chief medical officer at Reveal Dx in North Carolina, said she is also seeing an increase in the rate of newly diagnosed lung cancer in non-smokers, particularly among women and younger adults.
Most lung cancers fall into two groups: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), according to the American Cancer Society. (iStock)
The main factor driving up the share of non-smokers among lung cancer patients, according to Abazeed, is the successful drive to reduce tobacco consumption in the U.S.
“Other factors include improvements in imaging and broader use of CT scans that have enhanced early-stage tumor detection,” he noted.
“It is estimated that about 8% of lung cancers are inherited or occur because of a genetic predisposition.”
“Evolving environmental factors may also be contributing to this change, with pollutants potentially driving lung inflammation, which in turn has been implicated in cancer development.”
Modifiable risk factors
Some of the biggest non-smoking risk factors for lung cancer include ambient air pollution and secondhand smoke, according to Abazeed.
Exposure to thoracic radiation (high-energy radiation in the chest area) — along with occupational hazards like radon, asbestos and diesel exhaust — can also increase the risk.
The main factor driving up the share of non-smokers among lung cancer patients is the successful drive to reduce tobacco consumption in the U.S., experts say. (iStock)
Lifestyle-related inflammation, which is often linked to poor diet and sedentary behavior, can also play a role, Nicola noted.
“Some of these, like radon and air quality, can be addressed at the household or policy level,” Abazeed said.
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“Lifestyle interventions — such as exercise, diet and avoidance of indoor pollutants — may play a modest protective role.”
Both doctors pointed out that former smokers, especially those who smoked more often and for longer periods of time, remain at elevated risk even decades after quitting.
“The greater the number of pack-years, the higher the risk,” said Nicola. “Risk declines over time after quitting, but never returns to the baseline of a never-smoker.”
Genetic risk factors
Some people inherit a higher risk of developing lung cancer due to their DNA.
“It is estimated that about 8% of lung cancers are inherited or occur because of a genetic predisposition,” Abazeed told Fox News Digital.
“Inherited predisposition is an area of active investigation, particularly in younger patients or those with a strong family history.”
Having a first-degree relative with lung cancer roughly doubles the risk of developing the disease, even after controlling for smoking exposure, according to Nicola.
“Up to 50% of all chest CTs will detect at least one pulmonary nodule.”
“Cancers in non-smokers are more often associated with specific genetic mutations and genomic profiles,” she said. “This suggests that these malignancies have a different underlying biology compared to tumors in smokers.”
Screenings in question
Current U.S. screening guidelines call for annual low-dose CT scans for high-risk individuals based on age and smoking history, Abazeed reiterated.
The USPSTF recommends screening for “adults aged 50 to 80 years who have a 20 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.”
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“There is a growing interest in expanding eligibility to include non-smoking risk factors,” Abazeed noted. “Evidence is accumulating that could potentially change current population-wide guidelines.”
There are some potential risks linked to expanding screening, experts say, including the potential for overdiagnosis and false positives.
Exposure to occupational hazards like radon, asbestos and diesel exhaust can increase lung cancer risk. (Photo by Gado/Getty Images)
“The problem with screening everyone for lung cancer is that up to 50% of all chest CTs will detect at least one pulmonary nodule,” Nicola noted. “The vast majority of these nodules are benign, but a small percentage will turn out to be cancer.”
Based primarily on the size of the nodule, the clinician may recommend follow-up imaging or biopsy.
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“New tools are being developed that can help us better characterize the malignancy risk of a nodule, which will decrease the potential for harm associated with overdiagnosis in screening,” Nicola said.
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At 93, sprightly referee Frank Foster is still brandishing red and yellow cards and running the field three times a week for his local soccer association.
Having taken charge of around 5,500 matches over a 46-year officiating career, the great-grandfather credits his longevity and match-day stamina to a lifetime of healthy habits and a foundational diet, news agency SWNS reported.
Foster puts his remarkable fitness down to the strict wartime rations he was fed as a teenager, noting that it ensured he grew up eating “healthy food” rather than “sweets and cakes.”
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Decades later, his game-day preparation is still fueled by wholesome nutrition, always starting with a morning bowl of oatmeal, cereal or marmalade on toast to give him the energy to last the full 90 minutes.
The meal keeps him active enough to referee men’s, women’s and children’s games, a hobby he jokes he will never blow the final whistle on.
Frank Foster started refereeing in 1980. Today, he still officiates men’s, women’s and children’s games around three times a week. (SWNS)
His sharp mind and authoritative presence on the field are just as strong as his physical endurance.
A military veteran who aced his referee exam in 1980 with a 98% score, Foster relies on old-school discipline to keep matches under control, SWNS reported.
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He believes modern elite officials are too “soft” and allow player antics to ruin the sport. To maintain order and keep players from acting out, he lays down strict ground rules before kickoff. He has no patience for intimidation or theatrical diving. “Those who go down like they have been shot, well, I would just book them,” he said.
He is equally uncompromising when squads try to crowd him on the field.
Frank Foster is pictured before he became a referee. (Frank Foster/SWNS)
“I wouldn’t let them surround me at all,” Foster told SWNS.
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“I would say to the players, ‘Stay where you are,’ and ‘If you move one more inch, I will give you a yellow card.’ You need to stamp your authority and let them know who is in control.”
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He also avoids the modern stress of video-reviewing plays, which he believes creates unnecessary “aggression and disappointment” over microscopic offside calls, adding, “I think it spoils the game.”
Foster credits his longevity to wartime rations, adding that he avoided sweets. (SWNS)
“Sometimes it is only the player’s toe that is offside — it is ridiculous.”
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Foster says he “never thought” he’d still be doing this at age 93, but he makes the most of that gift.
He keeps his kit freshly washed, making sure it is “neat and tidy” for when he gets on that field.
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Foster, of South Yorkshire, England, also scrubs his black Adidas boots after every game, making sure they are “nice and clean” for his next match.
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Summer fun in the sun is being taken to a new extreme.
“Tanmaxxing” is a social media trend that involves maximizing sun exposure and tanning the skin more intensely.
Popular among Gen Z, the practice combines time spent in direct sunlight with a variety of tanning products like oils, bronzers and gels.
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Creators on social media are showing off their dramatic tan lines and outdoor set-ups — some even forgoing sun protection or adding tanning bed sessions.
“Tanmaxxing” is trending on social media as a way of maximizing sun exposure. (iStock)
While spending time outdoors can help boost mood, support the body’s production of vitamin D and reduce screen time, dermatologists warn that excessive sun exposure — especially as promoted by the tanmaxxing trend — can be dangerous.
New York-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Michael Tassavor, MD, emphasized that there is “no such thing as a safe, natural tan.”
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“Tanning is damage,” he said in an interview with Fox News Digital. “Tanfluencers sell a deep tan as a ‘wellness upgrade,’ but a tan isn’t a glow-up — it’s your skin’s visible distress signal that DNA damage has already happened.”
“As a skin cancer specialist, I’ve taken care of thousands of skin cancers on patients who ‘tanmaxxed’ before it had a name. Most regret it.”
Using a tanning bed before 35 years old can raise melanoma risk by about 75%, an expert warned. (iStock)
The World Health Organization classifies UV radiation and tanning beds as Group 1 carcinogens, which is the same category as tobacco and asbestos.
Using a tanning bed before age 35 can raise melanoma risk by about 75%, Tassavor noted.
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“The damage compounds silently and shows up years later, once the easy window to intervene has closed,” he said.
According to Tassavor, two common beliefs behind tanmaxxing are false: Skipping sunscreen does not produce a “better” tan, and a base tan does not protect the skin from future sunburns.
“Most of your vitamin D can come from diet and supplements, and your skin is efficient enough to top up what it needs from ordinary incidental exposure,” a dermatologist said. (iStock)
Sunlight “isn’t the enemy,” the dermatologist noted, but there’s no need to chase it.
“Most of your vitamin D can come from diet and supplements, and your skin is efficient enough to [get] what it needs from ordinary incidental exposure,” he said.
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“Vitamin D matters for bone density, and sun does give some people a genuine mood lift, but there’s no evidence that anyone has to go out of their way to sunbathe for it, and no evidence that diligent sunscreen use harms bone health.”
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To safely expose yourself to the sun, Tassavor recommends using SPF 30 sunscreen and reapplying every two hours. Tanning beds should be avoided “entirely,” he cautioned, because there is “no safe dose” of UV exposure and using them accelerates skin aging.
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The Great American State Fair was postponed Saturday after multiple people reportedly fainted the day before, forcing thousands of visitors to pivot during celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary.
Friday’s medical emergencies required onsite attention as crowds flocked to the nation’s capital for Independence Day.
The fair reopened later Friday evening but was postponed again Saturday.
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Fox News Digital asked attendees what it took to get to the capital and what they made of the closure.
“We are so blessed to live in the best country in the world,” Whitney Thomas, a mother from North Carolina who traveled with her family for the Great American State Fair, told Fox News Digital Friday.
An arch across the street from a 110-foot “Freedom 250” Ferris wheel during final preparations for the Great American State Fair on the National Mall June 22, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Al Drago for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Despite the weather closure, she said her family was able to enjoy the State Fair Thursday evening and planned to wait out the heat in nearby museums until the fair reopened.
“I wanted my kids, who are 9 and 10, to be able to experience this with us,” she said.
“You cannot tell me that America was won by shutting things down when it gets hot.”
Brad Shultis, a retired Marine who traveled from Stafford, Virginia, expressed frustration over the decision to halt festivities.
“You cannot tell me that America was won by shutting things down when it gets hot,” he told Fox News Digital.
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“It gets hot, and we shut it down because it’s hot? Who cares? If it’s too hot, stay home.”
Shultis noted that he drove to Springfield and took the Metro just to be turned away right after buying lunch. He questioned the decision to shut down the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, arguing that if people find the weather too hot, they should simply stay home or seek medical help rather than forcing a mass evacuation for those who spent time and money to get there.
Whitney Thomas brought her children with her from North Carolina to Washington to experience the historic event as a family. (Fox News Digital)
Wendy Lamb, who traveled eight hours from Connecticut with her family to support the state’s booth, noted that organizers were likely worried about the intense conditions and simply did not want visitors to suffer.
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While disappointed that her home state did not send official representation due to budget issues, Lamb and her fellow travelers refused to let the heat ruin their first trip to Washington, D.C.
“We’ve had a really, really fun time so far,” added John, another member of the group.
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He said they plan to navigate the heat by moving from museum to museum and using the Metro system to stay cool until the gates reopen.
For these visitors, the setback was minor compared to the emotional weight of seeing the U.S. Capitol and the Rotunda.
Judy drove with her family from Connecticut to support the state after officials withdrew support prior to the fair opening. (Fox News Digital)
“I mean, we are so fortunate we are free, and yet we have people out there that hate our country. … it’s very emotional,” said Pat Lamb, who fanned her face to stop tears welling in her eyes as she described the pride she felt for the nation.
The decision to close the fairgrounds aligns with severe weather protocols designed to prevent mass casualty medical events.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, extreme heat can quickly impair the body’s ability to cool itself, causing internal temperatures to rise faster than they can dissipate.
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When exposure to extreme conditions triggers a heat-related illness, symptoms can escalate rapidly from heat exhaustion — marked by heavy sweating, dizziness, nausea and fainting — to a life-threatening medical emergency, according to the CDC.
Brad Shultis, a veteran, was turned away just after lunch due to extreme heat at The Great American State Fair. (Fox News Digital)
The most severe risk is heat stroke, which occurs when the body’s cooling mechanism fails entirely, potentially driving core body temperatures to 103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher within minutes.
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To prevent severe complications like permanent organ damage or death, the CDC advises that anyone exhibiting warning signs such as confusion, slurred speech or a loss of consciousness should receive immediate medical treatment.
Public health officials urge individuals in high-heat environments to seek shade, stay heavily hydrated and identify air-conditioned cooling centers.
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