Women and Lung CancerMany women know their risk for breast cancer or
cervical cancer. They have annual screenings and perform
routine self checks. But they do not realize that they face a greater
health risk from lung cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the
leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. This
year, the National Cancer Institute predicts that 200,000 new
cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed and 160,000 Americans
will die from the disease. Annually, more women die of lung
cancer than of breast, uterine and ovarian cancers combined.
Overall, lung cancer affects more men than women,
but that gap is closing. Despite the warnings, the number of
women who smoke or who will start smoking is not
declining. In the past 20 years, the number of American
women diagnosed with lung cancer increased by 60 percent,
while the number of new cases in men remained about the
same. The number one thing that women can do to reduce
their risk of lung cancer is to not smoke.
“The tobacco advertising from the late 1960s and early
1970s that targeted women has come back to haunt us,” said
Corey Langer, MD, director of thoracic oncology at Penn’s
Abramson Cancer Center. “Tobacco companies told women
they had ‘come a long way, baby,’ and now more than 45
percent of the lung cancer patients we see are women.
Non-smokers are not immune to lung cancer
Tobacco use includes both people who smoke, and
people who are exposed to second-hand smoke. Although
the dangers of cigarette smoking are well publicized, it is
estimated that 20 percent of American women still smoke
and many more are exposed to the smoke of others.
According to the Lung Cancer Alliance, more non-smoking
women develop lung cancer than non-smoking men.
“Many women are aware of their risk for breast cancer,
but the same is not true for lung cancer,” said Taine T.V.
Pechet, MD, a lung surgeon at Penn Medicine. He states,
“A number of non-smoking women assume they are not at
risk, but that is not the case. They are exposed to secondhand
smoke and radon, which is also a significant cause of
lung cancer.”
Diagnosis and treatment
One of the reasons that lung cancer is so deadly is because
it is difficult to diagnose in its early stages, when treatment is
most successful.
“Early-stage lung cancer is usually found by accident
on an X-ray or scan for some other health issue,” said John
Kucharczuk, MD, a lung surgeon at Penn Medicine. “There
are usually no real symptoms of lung cancer until it is very
advanced and has often spread beyond the lung.”
Dr. Pechet adds: “Even in its more advanced stages, we can
often provide effective treatment strategies. However, earlier
detection provides opportunity for a broader range of options,
including more cosmetic and minimally invasive solutions.”
The three principal methods for treating lung cancer are
surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Some studies
show that women with lung cancer may live longer than men.
Researchers are investigating the impact that biology may
play in the development and treatment of lung cancer.
Dr. Langer says that researchers are examining the role
that hormones, genetics and even body size may play in the
disease’s development and treatment.
“There are some unique differences in this disease between
men and women that lead us to believe there may be unique
ways to treat lung cancer,” Dr. Langer said. “We need to find
out what makes people susceptible and then be smarter about
how we diagnose, treat and eventually prevent lung cancer.”
Researching the disease
Dr. Kucharczuk emphasizes the importance of clinical
trials in improving the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.
“The treatments we have are effective, but we need to
strive to improve them,” said Dr. Kucharczuk. “We need to
look for better treatment alternatives and improve the
survival rate for this disease. At Penn, we are testing new
drugs and vaccines that target the proteins present in lung
cancer. These new treatments can help our current patients
and what we learn during the trial will certainly benefit our
future patients.”
For more information or to make an appointment with a
lung specialist, call 800-789-PENN
or visit at the Penn Lung Center website.
For every breath you’ll take: the Penn Lung Center
At Penn Lung Center, you’ll work with the most experienced team of
dedicated lung specialists in the region.
Patients benefit from the best care available for:
The Penn Lung Center is one of the top 10 lung
programs in the country and best in the region for
the treatment of respiratory diseases according to
U.S. News &World Report. For more information or to
make an appointment, call 800-789-PENN
or visit at the Penn Lung Center website.
Facts about women & lung cancer |
If you think lung cancer just affects men, think again.
- Lung cancer is now the number one killer of women, claiming the lives of more women each year than breast cancer.
- Lung cancer is not declining among women, as it is among men.
- One in every 17 women will develop lung cancer in their lifetime.
- It is estimated that over 80,000 women will get lung cancer this year—nearly half of all lung cancer cases.
- An estimated 72,000 American women will die from lung cancer this year, making up over 40 percent of all lung cancer deaths in this country.
- In one study, females with a long smoking history were nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer as male smokers.
Reprinted with permission from the Lung Cancer Alliance |
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Health and appearance benefits to quitting smoking
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The following are some of the many health and beauty benefits you can look forward to as a non-smoker:
- Quitting smoking cuts your risk of heart attack in half.
- According to the US Center for Disease Control, women who don’t smoke live an average of 14.5 years longer.
- Blood circulation improves.
- Blood pressure and pulse rate lower and approach normal.
- Higher energy and stamina level.
- Mouth and hair no longer smell of smoke.
- Senses of taste and smell improve.
- Less coughing and other respiratory issues.
- Field of vision increases by 15 to 20 percent.
- Quitting now will improve your skin tone and color and overall appearance.
- Risk of all diseases caused by smoking is reduced—emphysema, heart attacks, and cancers of all types.
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