Abhishek Shankar, Associate Professor of the Department of Radiation Oncology at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, shared on LinkedIn:
“As India prepares for the future of lung cancer screening, one question deserves greater attention in indian context – Should screening eligibility be determined by smoking history alone?
In India, a substantial proportion of lung cancer occurs in people who have never smoked. Air pollution, household biomass fuel exposure, occupational carcinogens, prior tuberculosis, and genetic susceptibility all contribute to a risk profile that differs from many high-income countries. Emerging evidence suggests that screening strategies developed elsewhere may require careful adaptation for the Indian context.
I had the opportunity to share perspectives along with Catharine Grimes on why India needs a risk-based, evidence-driven, and context-specific approach to lung cancer screening-one that goes beyond smoking history while ensuring equity, feasibility, and scientific rigor.
Grateful to Devex for highlighting this important discussion.”
You can also read:
Lung Cancer in Nonsmoking Individuals: A Distinct Clinical Profile
