Why do some heavy smokers never get lung cancer but some who never smoke do get it?

Answer 1

It's more a matter of genetics.
Some people are born with a genetic code that makes them less-susceptible to smoking while others are more susceptible.
There are some two / three pack a day smokers who have lungs as clear as a newborn baby's.

Answer 2

There isn't always a clear cut reason.

Something goes awry at a cellular level and unfortunately, sometimes the bad cells get a foothold. It seems to be as often without clear cause as it is with.

The same can be true of so many other diseases too. Why does a young, healthy man who runs 30 miles per week drop dead of a sudden heart attack?

There isn't always something or someone to blame, which makes cancer in an otherwise healthy person so hard to understand.

Answer 3

the etiology of lung cancer is varied, but most cancers develop becoz of an imbalance between to linds of genes within the cells
1)protooncogenes - cancer causing genes
2) antioncogenes - most important being p53.

due to smoking respiratory cells get damaged, when the damage is minimal the cell can regenerate, but when the damage is extensive then the p53 and other anti cancer genes make sure that the cell dies.
but in case ur p53 genes arent functioning properly , the protooncogenes get activated and the cell will divide and cause cancer.

so its like some of us have strong p53 genes while others ve weak. if u r a smoker and ve strong p53genes then u may be protected from cancer for a long time
any doubts?

Answer 4

Because smoking is just a FACTOR lung cancer isn't a disease of smoking it is a disease were cells start to act differently than they were designed (by whom I wonder) to do. Cigerate smoke can damage the cells but may not (just like dropping an egg MAY smash it but may not depending on many other factors) and there are many other things that can cause the cell to become cancerous (just as there are many other ways to cause damage to an egg besides dropping it)

Answer 5

Genetics.
Some people carry the gene for lung cancer that gets switched on when they smoke, some don't.

Answer 6

Because smoking isn't the only thing that causes lung cancer.

Answer 7

Mainly because smoking BARELY increases your chance of lung cancer. In a recent study by HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL children who live in homes where 2 or more adults smoke only have a 1.572 in 1 MILLION chance of developing lung cancer. Children in NON SMOKING homes have a 1.34 in 1 million chance..... I don't find that to be any real difference at all.

Answer 8

For the same reason that some people never colds or the flu. Everyone is different.

Answer 9

Second hand smoke, heriditary disorders. People who do not get it are just lucky because they have good genes.

Answer 10

Genetics.Proper health care ,nursing and knowledge about your health statues.