Hyderabad, May 12 -- By Dr Nikhil Suresh Ghadyalpatil

A 52-year-old schoolteacher came to me with a persistent cough and mild breathlessness. She had never smoked a cigarette in her life. Her chest X-ray showed a shadow. Tests confirmed lung cancer. Her first words were, "But doctor, I don't smoke."This captures the biggest misconception about lung cancer - that it only happens to smokers. While tobacco remains the leading cause, I am seeing a growing number of non-smokers, particularly women, being diagnosed in my practice. Air pollution, cooking fumes in poorly ventilated kitchens, occupational exposure to chemicals, and genetic factors all play a role.

Warning Signs You Should Not Ignore

If any of the following last more than two to...