How can a person get lung cancer at age 21?

peoples bodies react differently, I have a friend that's dying of throat cancer,he's 20 years old.

heavy chain smoking since a kid

Tobacco smoke, asbestos, radon gas, or viruses are the most common.

The medical community, in general, has done a good job alerting older people about the dangers of cancer, the risks, and what symptoms they may have. Unfortunately, young people have interpreted this to mean that only old people get cancer. This is not true. Any age person, even a new born infant can get cancer. Despite all the hype about the environment and lifestyle choices being the 'cause of cancer' . . the truth is that only a handful of cancers may place someone at risk . . in truth no one knows what causes the over 200 different types of cancer. There is not one risk or 'cause' that anyone can point to and say with absolute certainty that a person will get cancer if they are exposed. The reason that I can say that is that not everyone who is exposed to carcinogens gets cancer. Not everyone who has a risky lifestyle will get cancer. And, despite the common thinking you can still get cancer even if you are a non-smoker, avoid carcinogens, diet, exercise, and live a healthy lifestyle. If the world was as toxic as some would have you think than everyone would have cancer . . but everyone does not have cancer even when heavily exposed to the same enviroments. So, cancer is far more random than anyone will admit. Teens and young adults tend to get cancers that are associated with hormones or growth spurts thus they can have bone cancers or muscle and tendon sarcomas more than adults. They can also develop leukemia, lymphoma, brain tumors, and germ cell tumors. Lung cancer is an unusual cancer for a young person but it can happen, especially if this was a secondary cancer (spread from elsewhere). I am very sorry for the loss of your friend. Young adults with cancer is one of the most under reported diseases. It is rare and no one, not even a doctor suspects that a healthy looking young adult might have cancer. Cancer is asymptomatic in the early stages and because the young are relatively healthy and strong can go many more days and months with cancer than older people. By the time the young person or his doctor realize that cancer is present . . the cancer is very advanced. That is why so many young people are dying. One of the most important symptoms or really just about the only early symptom is a lump or bump anywhere on the body that just isn't going away. If it grows at all than it should be checked immediately. Far too many young people dismiss a lump because it 'doesn't hurt' . . . what they don't realize is that tumors rarely hurt unless they are large enough to press on nerves or are growing into tissue or bone. Just in the last few years the oncological community has recognized the problems associated with adolescents and young adults being the 'forgotten' members of the cancer community. More and more you can find the major cancer centers offering cancer programs specific to teens and young adults. Teen and young adult cancers are different than a childs and different than an older adult and need to be treated differently. Juvenile cancer: improving care for adolescents and young adults within the frame of medical oncology http://annonc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/16/2/181

I'm so sorry for your loss. Unfortunately, cancer is the enemy of all, regardless of age, health, habits, sex, race, religion, whatever. It doesn't care who you are. If you are human, you are a target. And the hard part is trying to understand. Some questions will never be answered. My prayers are with you. Blessings

I'm sorry to hear about your friend. Cancer doesn't really chose an age range to go after though.We are all susceptible.

You can get lung cancer at any time even when you are a non smoker. Cancer cannot be stopped, but it can be prevented. If you smoke then theres a chance for you to get lung cancer. I think it can be caused from genetics too.

Remember that a thing like cancer isn't confined to the elderly. It strikes with reckless abandon. Additionally, lung cancer isn't even reserved for smokers. The great actor Andy Kaufman was a non-smoker who died of lung cancer. My sympathies for the loss of your friend.