Overview

In this video, Dr Peush Bajpai, HOD & Consultant Medical-Hemato Oncologist at Manipal Hospital, Delhi, debunks the myth that lung cancer only affects older individuals.

He explains that lung cancer cases are now being diagnosed in younger people, particularly those in their 30s or even younger, due to passive smoking exposure during childhood.

Dr Bajpai highlights how many young individuals were exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes, especially in regions like Himachal Pradesh, where the traditional chulha (stove) system has contributed to poor indoor air quality. In these environments, children inhaled small particulate matter that traveled deep into their lungs, causing mutations that later increased their cancer risk.

This, combined with other environmental factors, has led to a rise in lung cancer diagnoses among younger populations. Watch this eye-opening video to understand how exposure to passive smoking during childhood can have long-lasting health effects and the importance of raising awareness about lung cancer risks, even in young adults.

Speakers

Dr Peush Bajpai

Dr Peush Bajpai (MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DM (Medical Oncology), ESMO Certified) is the HOD & Consultant - Medical Hemato Oncologist at Manipal Hospital, Delhi. With over 17 years of experience in the field, he is adept in comprehensive treatment of various cancers. Dr Bajpai specialises in Breast Cancer Management Gastrointestinal malignancies- Gastric, colo-rectal, hepatocellular carcinoma, Gynaecological Malignancies - Carcinoma Ovary, the, endometrium, Haematological Malignancies - Multiple Myeloma,, CML, CLL, and Autologous Bone marrow transplant, Soft-tissue Sarcomas and Osteosarcoma, Thoracic Malignancies - Lung Carcinoma, Immunotherapy, Precision Oncology. He completed his MBBS and MD in General Medicine before specialising with a DM in Medical Oncology from the Cancer Institute, Adyar, Chennai. Dr Bajpai is also accredited by the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO). Dr Bajpai is actively involved in the broader medical community through his membership in several associations, including the Indian Medical Association (IMA), the Association of Physicians of India (API), and the Indian Society of Medical Oncology (ISMO).