Chinese American women who have never smoked are facing a troubling rise in lung cancer diagnoses, and researchers are investigating secondhand smoke as a possible culprit. “They are developing lung cancer, and we don’t know why,” said Dr. Chien-Ching Li, associate professor at Rush University. His research, funded by a CHEST grant, is now focused on this high-risk group—especially those with limited English proficiency.
Asian American women who have never smoked are twice as likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer as non-smoking white women. In fact, 57% of Asian American women diagnosed with lung cancer have never smoked. Dr. Li points to household exposure as a key factor: 28% of Chinese American men smoke heavily, and 89% are married. “We think secondhand smoke might be one of the key risk factors,” he said.
Dr. Li’s team is developing culturally sensitive materials to raise awareness and reduce exposure. Their four-step approach includes surveying women living with smokers, identifying barriers to change, crafting targeted educational materials, and evaluating their impact. These resources will help women advocate for smoke-free homes and encourage screening.
The project is still in its early stages, but Dr. Li hopes to expand it with future NIH grants. “Not many studies focus on identifying the risk factors with lung cancer associated with Chinese American women who have never smoked,” he said. “We want to provide more knowledge and make more contributions to research.”
See: “Secondhand Smoke May Be Fueling an Increase in Lung Cancer Diagnoses in Chinese American Women” (March 14, 2024)
