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No, lung cancer is not contagious. Cancer cells cannot spread from one person to another.. Every cell has an individual’s DNA which cannot survive in another human body. It means cancer cannot spread by touching or breathing the same air as someone who has cancer.
However, there are certain instances when lung cancer may seem contagious, however, it is not.
Chronic inflammatory conditions like asthma, pneumonia, tuberculosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can increase the risk of lung cancer. Another reason lung cancer seems to be contagious is heredity. A (2017) study shows that ‘approximately 8% of lung cancers are inherited or occur as a result of a genetic predisposition’.
Besides this, lung cancer may also spread during organ transplantation. A (2016) study has shown that the ‘lung transplant candidates are at higher risk for developing lung cancer’. A (2020) study also suggests lung cancer may spread to the foetus during pregnancy. However, this appears to be a rare phenomenon and needs more research to understand the mechanism.
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