Lung cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths globally. While smoking and passive smoking are well-known contributors, a growing number of cases are being reported in people with no history of smoking. One such unexpected case is that of 26-year-old Rasika Bombatkar, whose life changed dramatically following a routine health check-up.

Despite being a non-smoker and in good health, Rasika was diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer. At the time, she was working in Tamil Nadu as a research graduate after completing her engineering degree from IIT. The diagnosis came as a shock.

“I remember crying alone in the hospital chapel for an hour. Not because I understood what was coming…but because I didn’t. I had big dreams, there was so much I wanted to do…& here I’d just been handed a word that threatened to take everything away..”

The treatment was brutal. I lost 10 kgs. My skin broke out in painful rashes. I covered every mirror at home because I couldn’t bear to see myself. Amidst all this, there were nights I’d stay up & wonder, ‘Should I just end it here?’ But, I found slivers of strength–from the quiet corners of my being, & from my family & friends who refused to let me give up.

Rasika’s condition improved slowly. On December 15, surgeons successfully removed the tumour. “That day, I felt like I’d won something. Maybe I have, " Rasika said. Today, it has been two and a half years since her recovery, though the emotional and physical scars remain.

“Cancer took a lot from me–my health, the life I thought I was building…But it couldn’t take my will to fight,” she added. Currently, Rasika is working with the World Health Organisation, turning her battle into a mission to help others.

Understanding lung cancer

Lung cancer occurs in the lungs and is classified mainly into two types:

• Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): The most common form, which spreads slowly.

• Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC): A more aggressive form that often spreads quickly and is usually diagnosed at a later stage.

Common causes

Key risk factors for lung cancer include:

• Smoking and exposure to passive smoke

• Radiation exposure

• Radon gas

• Asbestos exposure

Warning signs to watch

Lung cancer often goes unnoticed in its early stages. However, some early symptoms may help in timely diagnosis:

• Persistent cough

• Difficulty in breathing

• Blood in phlegm

• Chest or body pain

• Unexplained weight loss and fatigue

• Hoarseness or changes in voice

• Frequent infections

• Swelling in the neck or other parts of the body

Changes in the nature or sound of a chronic cough is also a signal of tumour growth. Pain while coughing or speaking is another symptom that shouldn't be ignored.