Lung Cancer in Young Patients Under the Age of Thirty-five: Single Center Experience

Objective: Lung cancer is the most common cancer in the world. It is rarely seen under the age of 35. The median age of patients at diagnosis is 71. Methods: In our institute we have retrospectively evaluated patients who are 35 years old or younger at the time of diagnosis. Results: We have defined 17 patients whose ages were ranging between 19 and 35, from 2001 to 2008. Median age was 30 (range, 19-35) and median follow up time was 11 months (range: 1-74 months). The number of men and women was 8 (47%) and 9 (53%), respectively. At diagnosis, 14 (82%) patients had stage IV, 3 (18%) patients had stage III disease. Brain metastases were present in 47% of patients. In our study adenocarcinoma was the most common (56%) histological subtype and small cell lung cancer was rare (6%). Only one patient had smoking history as a risk factor. All patients received platinum based chemotherapy. Only one patient had personal cancer history and it was breast cancer. Only one patient had family history for cancer and it was colon cancer. A total of 14 patients died due to lung cancer. Survival rate in patients were low. Beside, gender or stage did not affect survival rates. Conclusion: Lung cancer is rare in young people. When it is seen in young patients, it tends to be metastatic and the most common site of metastases is brain. In our patients the most common histology was adenocarcinoma and small cell lung cancer was rare. Smoking history, family history or personal cancer history did not appear to be important risk factors for lung cancer in young people. The etiology of disease is probably different from elderly people.