Debunking 7 Lung Cancer Myths: Facts You Need to Know
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7 Myths About Lung Cancer

Here's the truth behind common lung cancer myths.
7 Myths About Lung Cancer
Yaroslav Danylchenko/Stocksy
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Published on September 26, 2025
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The number of people diagnosed with lung cancer has decreased steadily over the past 20 years. But still, 1 in every 16 people will get a lung cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, and many don’t understand their risk.

 “Lung cancer, though common and serious, still has many misconceptions,” says Ian Bostock, MD, a thoracic surgeon at Miami Cancer Institute in Florida.

“Clearing these myths helps patients and families make informed decisions about prevention, screening, and treatment,” says Dr. Bostock. Here are seven common lung cancer myths and the truth behind them.

1. Myth: If You Don’t Smoke, You Won’t Get Lung Cancer

Although experts think smoking is responsible for 80 percent of lung cancer deaths, it is not the only risk factor for this cancer.

 “Small cell lung cancer, which represents about 10 to 15 percent of new diagnoses, occurs almost exclusively in individuals who have smoked heavily throughout their lives, says Michael Menefee, MD, a hematology oncologist with Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

But non-small cell lung cancer (the most common type) can develop in people who have never smoked, or smoked only a limited quantity (less than five packs) of cigarettes in their lifetime, says Dr. Menefee.

“Other environmental exposures can increase lung cancer risk, including asbestos, radon, and air pollution,” says Kathleen McAvoy, MD, an assistant professor of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. “Genetics and family history of lung cancer can significantly increase risk as well.”

Some workplaces can expose you to cancer-causing chemicals like arsenic, silica, vinyl chloride, nickel compounds, and coal products. Other lung cancer risk factors include:

  • Previous radiation therapy to your chest (for breast cancer or Hodgkin lymphoma)
  • Some dietary supplements (high-dose beta-carotene), especially if you smoke

  • Diesel exhaust exposure
  • Arsenic in groundwater used for drinking

  • HIV infection

2. Myth: All Lung Cancers Are the Same

Experts divide lung cancer into two main types: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). From there, more specific categories are assigned based on how the cancer grows and responds to treatment.

Non-small cell lung cancer makes up the vast majority of all lung cancers, and includes these subtypes:

  • Adenocarcinoma Starts in lung cells that line the lungs and make mucus
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma Starts in flat cells that line lung airways
  • Large Cell Carcinoma Starts in any part of the lung and grows fast
Small cell lung cancer is less common, but can grow and spread faster than NSCLCs.

3. Myth: If You Have No Symptoms, You Don’t Have Lung Cancer

If you don’t feel any different, it’s hard to imagine you might have lung cancer, but it can grow without causing any negative symptoms — at least in the early stages.

 “Lung cancer often develops silently, and many patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage,” says Bostock, who recommends regular screening with low-dose CT scan if you’re high risk.

“More and more, patients are being diagnosed with lung cancer without any symptoms related to their malignancy,” says Menefee, which is happening because of increased lung cancer screening of current and former smokers.

4. Myth: If You’ve Been a Smoker, Quitting Won’t Protect You

The longer you smoke, the more your risk for lung cancer grows.

 After you quit, your risk keeps decreasing as time passes. For example, lung cancer risk declines up to 60 percent after 10 years of not smoking.

It's hard to quit smoking, but you don’t have to do it alone. Your healthcare provider can set you up with counseling, nicotine replacement products (like gum or patches), and sometimes even antidepressants to help you nix the habit.

5. Myth: Advanced Lung Cancer Always Requires Treatment With Chemotherapy

Advanced stage 4 lung cancer means it has already spread to other areas in the body, and can be difficult to treat. Cancer treatment in this stage usually involves surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy, which can all help you live longer, but may not cure the disease.

But lung cancer treatments have advanced drastically, with some success in treating advanced lung cancer without traditional chemotherapy.

 “In the last several years, the detection and subsequent treatment options for certain lung cancers harboring specific genetic mutations means that even metastatic disease can be treated with molecular targeted agents, some of which come in pill form,” says Dr. McAvoy. “So, not every patient with metastatic lung cancer has to receive the classic chemotherapies we have been used to.”

6. Myth: Localized (Stage 1 and 2) Lung Cancer Only Requires Surgery

Cancer care providers manage stage 1 and 2 lung cancers with a variety of treatment types, including surgery and radiation, but these aren’t your only options.

 “More recent and ongoing research has demonstrated that there can be benefits to using systemic cancer treatments after localized therapy, such as surgery or radiation, to an early-stage lung cancer,” says McAvoy.
This is not true in all cases, McAvoy says, but sometimes systemic therapies like chemo, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy can have benefits in preventing the cancer from returning.

7. Myth: Lung Cancer Screening Is Too Risky

Low-dose CT scans (most often used for lung cancer screening) expose you to some radiation, but they can help your providers catch lung cancer early, which is crucial for successful treatment, says Bostock. “Low-dose CT screening is quick, safe, and proven to save lives by detecting cancer before it spreads. For people at higher risk, the benefits far outweigh the risks,” he says.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends an annual CT scan if all three of these conditions apply to you:

  • You have a 20 pack-year smoking history or more (smoking one pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years).
  • You currently smoke or have quit in the past 15 years.
  • You are between ages 50 and 80.
“Early detection is crucial for lung cancer, as it can often be cured with surgery or a combination of treatments,” says Bostock. Your provider will help you decide if annual lung cancer screenings are right for you.

The Takeaway

  • Smoking is the No. 1 risk factor for lung cancer, your risk can also increase with certain dietary supplements, HIV infection, and exposure to chemicals, radon, and previous radiation therapy.
  • Lung cancer treatment is highly individualized — regardless of your stage, your treatment may not be what you expect.
  • While screening for lung cancer with CT scans exposes your chest to small amounts of radiation, the benefits of catching cancer early far outweigh the risks of exposure.

Resources We Trust

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
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Tawee Tanvetyanon

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Tawee Tanvetyanon, MD, MPH, is a professor of oncologic sciences and senior member at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Morsani College of Medicine at the University of South Florida in Tampa. He is a practicing medical oncologist specializing in lung cancer, thymic malignancy, and mesothelioma.

A physician manager of lung cancer screening program, he also serves as a faculty panelist for NCCN (National Comprehensive Cancer Network) guidelines in non-small cell lung cancer, mesothelioma, thymoma, and smoking cessation. To date, he has authored or coauthored over 100 biomedical publications indexed by Pubmed.

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