World Cancer Day 2026: Oncologist debunks 5 common myths about lung cancer

However, doctors are witnessing a changing landscape - one influenced not just by tobacco use, but also by air pollution, indoor air quality, second-hand smoke, and occupational exposure. At the same time, advances in diagnostics and treatment mean outcomes are no longer as bleak as many believe - particularly when the disease is detected early.

To honour World Cancer Day 2026, HT Lifestyle reached out to Dr GVK Reddy, a medical and haemato-oncologist, and the director of oncology services at Yashoda Hospital, Hyderabad, to gain expert insights on this matter.

He highlights, “One of the biggest challenges we face is not just diagnosing lung cancer but correcting the myths surrounding it. Many people still believe lung cancer only affects smokers, that symptoms can be ignored, or that there are few treatment options. In reality, we are diagnosing more non-smokers today, especially in urban settings, and we have far more treatment tools at our disposal than even a decade ago . Early evaluation of symptoms and timely diagnosis can significantly improve both survival and quality of life.”