The incidence of lung cancer in women increased rapidly after World War 2 as more and more women began to smoke, but that trend is finally reversing. Recent studies have show that lung cancer cases in women have leveled over for the first time.
Smoking
According to the National Women Health Resource Center (NWHRC) raising awareness of the disease and its causes still remains urgent. Despite the downward trend of smoking, lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer related deaths in men and women in the United States. Lung cancer accounts for 1 in every 4 cancer deaths and 1 in every 8 newly diagnosed cancers in women. Approximately 173,000 Americans are diagnosed with lung cancer every year.
Women who smoke are 12 times more like to get lung cancer than those who don’t, yet more than 1 in 5 women continue to smoke.
Smoking cigarettes, cigars and pipes continues to be the leading cause of lung cancer, accounting for nearly 9 out of 10 cases.
Second Hand Smoke
Sadly, you don’t have to smoke to get lung cancer. Inhaling other peoples smoke (second hand smoke) can also affect you. Studies show spouses of smokers have a 20 – 30 percent greater chance of developing the disease than those of non-smokers. Other causes include exposure to harmful substances in home or work place, such as Radon or Asbestos. Some people seem to be more vulnerable, and a small percentage of people may be genetically susceptible to lung cancer.
Quitting smoking at any age reduces the risk, but the degree of risk depends on the length of time since quitting and how heavily the person smoked previously. Aside from quitting or never starting to smoke people can minimize their risk by reducing their exposure to harmful substances.
Types of Lung Cancer
There are two main types of lung cancer. The two types are, Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and Small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Of those, women who smoke are more likely to be diagnosed with SCLC, which is the more aggressive form.
Symptoms
Symptoms of lung cancer include, but are not limited to persistent cough, blood stained phlegm or spittle, shortness of breath, chest pain, recurring pneumonia or bronchitis, loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss.
Treatment
Treatments may include surgery to remove the cancer, radiation to kill or shrink the cancer cells, chemotherapy and newer targeted therapies or combinations of these treatments. Recent advances in lung cancer treatment have contributed to improved patient survival and quality of life. So there is encouraging news for women in the fight against lung cancer.
Resources for additional information:
National Women Health Resource Center (NWHRC)
Heather Crowe: Secondhand Smoke
Thoughts?
Disclaimer:
The information in this article is to be used for general informational purposes only. It should not be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice. If you have further specific questions you are urged to consult with your personal physician for additional information.
photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alesadam/3957304969/sizes/z/in/photostream/