Could cooking smoke be the silent killer behind lung cancer in women?

A jiko fitted with gas valves bringing in the biogas used for cooking at Chuka Boys high school in Tharaka Nithi County (Dickson Mwiti, Standard)

Most women battling lung cancer, the leading cause of death among cancers, have done nothing more than cook for their families, according to a doctor.

The gastroenterologist warns that smoke from firewood and other traditional fuels may be causing lung cancer, contributing to deaths, especially as patients face the high cost of treatment.

Many women with lung cancer have not been exposed to common risks like tobacco smoke, radioactive gases, or asbestos, leaving them unaware of the disease’s cause. Even their doctors are still unsure of the triggers.