More and more non-smokers get lung cancer

The number of non-smokers with lung cancer in recent years in our country increased sharply. Striking is the large number of non-smoking women with lung cancer.

That says Nico Zandwijk, pulmonologist at the Dutch Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, in an interview with The Parool. Remarkably, the lung tumors of non-smokers are less aggressive than those of smokers. Zandwijk relies on experiences from his practice and that of fellow pulmonologists.

Poor air quality in large parts of the Netherlands would be a cause for the increase in the number of people with lung cancer. Of Zandwijk is particularly concerned about the dirty air in the Randstad and Limburg.

Figures from the United States show that 1 in 4 cancer patients should not smoke. According to Van Zandwijk there are many people between 30 and 40 years.

The pulmonologist wants the Netherlands - along with neighboring countries - developing new technologies for pollution abatement and more research into the effects of dirty air on human health.