Lifestyle, Environmental, Occupational, and Dietary Risk Factors in Small-Cell vs. Non-Small-Cell Advanced Lung Cancer Patients: Is There a Connection?

Abstract

Objectives: (i) To evaluate the possible exposure of newly diagnosed lung cancer patients to selected lifestyle, environmental, occupational, and dietary risk factors and (ii) to assess the differences in exposures of small-cell (SCLC) and non-small-cell (NSCLC) lung cancer patients to those risk factors. Methods: In this study, 205 newly diagnosed patients with IIIB/IV stage of either SCLC or NSCLC (111 men vs. 94 women) from Vojvodina, Serbia, were surveyed for selected demographic characteristics, dietary and lifestyle habits, and environmental factors. Results: Most patients were long-term heavy smokers. The body mass index values of SCLC patients were higher than those of NSCLC patients. Women reported higher stress levels compared to men. Women diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma were more often exposed to traffic pollution compared to men. Individual indoor coal combustion systems were more often used by SCLC patients of both sexes compared to other cancer types. Men were more frequent consumers of canned foods, which are potential sources of endocrine disruptors. Occupational exposure to lung cancer risk factors, in addition to tobacco smoking, may be crucial in lung cancer development with specific occupations. Conclusions: Further research on environmental and occupational risk factors for lung cancer is urgent in order to unveil the etiopathogenesis of specific lung cancer types.