Can nonsmokers get lung cancer?
• Answer: The March 2006 lung cancer death of nonsmoker Dana Reeve, the widow of Superman actor Christopher Reeve, shed some light on this issue. It turns out that more than 60% of new lung cancer patients have never smoked or already have quit smoking, says the Lung Cancer Alliance. In some of these people, exposure to secondhand smoke may actually be a culprit. Reeve, for example, a lounge singer, performed in some very smoky clubs. So in short, yes nonsmokers can — and do — get lung cancer. Some cases of lung cancer develop after a long-time smoker has quit, although the risk decreases with time.