Question 1

is lung cancer rare in the under 40 or even the under 35 age group?

Accepted Answer

Many forms: There are many types of lung cancer, but some do affect younger patients.

Question 2

is it true that it's rare to get lung cancer at an early age?

Accepted Answer

Yes: "...The average age at which lung cancer is diagnosed is 71, with less than 3% of lung cancers diagnosed under the age of 45. That said, lung cancer does occur in young adults and even children..."
http://goo.Gl/k6aex
and
http://goo.Gl/5mixx.

Question 3

is it rare for someone who has never smoked to have lung cancer?

Accepted Answer

Uncommon: About 10% of the lung cancers occur in non-smokers.

Question 4

iv smoked for about 10yrs. i'm 29 and i'm trying to quit. i'm wondering would it be rare for me to have lung cancer now. ?

Accepted Answer

Try to quit anyway: Lung cancer from smoking isn't common at your age, but you've already permanently damaged the air spaces' elasticity and done some harm to the bigger airways. The sooner you stop, the better for your long-term health and ability to enjoy life.

Question 5

i have chest pain in the center, when ibow down. it is rare and it doesn't happen when i breathe.i have painin the back, like a circle.is it lung cancer?

Accepted Answer

Unlikely: The pains that you feel need to be evaluated for what is causing them. Lung cancer is usually initially without much pain except for irritation of airway maybe but are found most of the time accidentally when looking for other things or as part of screening. Look at your risks for it and be screened and look for causes of the pain. If they happen to correlate then you find out.

Question 6

both my uncle&my dad had lung cancer&lymphoma  at the same time is this rare&could it be genetic?many males have died from same for generations back!

Accepted Answer

Unknown: Many genetic predispositions exist that we can't identify.
However, lung cancer and leukemia together is unusual and suggests an environmental exposure. Were the victims smokers? Any specific occupation (i.e. Miners or coal workers or other?) i'd be much bore suspicious that your dad and his brother were exposed to something that led to the diseases.

Question 7

there is rare inherited mutation that gives you 1 in 3 lifetime chance of developing lung cancer even in non smokers. for someone with anxiety and lost mom to bac lung cancer should i test?

Accepted Answer

Which gene?: Egfr t790m's actual risk is unknown since nobody knows how many people without lung cancer carry the mutation. Even li fraumeni doesn't approach a 1/3 risk of lung cancer. And what would you do with this information if you had it? Hopefully you will always be a non-smoker.

Question 8

do non-contrast ct scan miss lung cancer? is such a scenario common or rare?

Accepted Answer

No test is: perfect, but a properly performed non contrast chest CT should be able to detect lung cancer with a high sensitivity, probably 95%.

Question 9

no symptoms and felt fine til they told me i had stage iv primary lung cancer / 2nd kidney cancer. is it that unusual or rare for a person to live a long normal life without ever knowing they have it?

Accepted Answer

Lung cancer: About 35-40% patients when diagnosed with stage 4 nsclc do not have symptoms and signs of that and it is found as part of routine imaging or based on some very subtle and non specific signs and symptoms.

Question 10

pain on touch on rt shoulder blade and when i bend my neck ~ 2 months. chest ct clear, seldom pain in rt shoulder also. am a smoker,  lung cancer?

Accepted Answer

Not likely: Not likely lung cancer. Sounds like muscle-skeletal pain, ie muscle sprain. If it persists for a few weeks then it warrants a doctor visit. Your ct scan is normal so this is less likely lung cancer. Lung cancer doesn't make you hurt upon touch. Smokers have a 20 fold risk of getting lung cancer. But that risk goes down significantly if they quit for about 5 years.

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Doctor answers about:

Is lung cancer rare under 40

A member asked:

Is lung cancer rare in the under 40 or even the under 35 age group?

A member asked:

Is it true that it's rare to get lung cancer at an early age?

A member asked:

Is it rare for someone who has never smoked to have lung cancer?

A member asked:

Iv smoked for about 10yrs. i'm 29 and i'm trying to quit. i'm wondering would it be rare for me to have lung cancer now. ?

A member asked:

I have chest pain in the center, when ibow down. it is rare and it doesn't happen when i breathe.i have painin the back, like a circle.is it lung cancer?

A member asked:

Both my uncle&my dad had lung cancer&lymphoma at the same time is this rare&could it be genetic?many males have died from same for generations back!

A member asked:

There is rare inherited mutation that gives you 1 in 3 lifetime chance of developing lung cancer even in non smokers. for someone with anxiety and lost mom to bac lung cancer should i test?

A member asked:

Do non-contrast ct scan miss lung cancer? is such a scenario common or rare?

A member asked:

No symptoms and felt fine til they told me i had stage iv primary lung cancer / 2nd kidney cancer. is it that unusual or rare for a person to live a long normal life without ever knowing they have it?

A member asked:

Pain on touch on rt shoulder blade and when i bend my neck ~ 2 months. chest ct clear, seldom pain in rt shoulder also. am a smoker, lung cancer?

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