It’s the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. and the No.1 most deadly cancer, yet diagnosis and treatment options for lung cancer are severely limited. Once diagnosed, lung cancer patients’ long-term survival rates are low. Women are not only twice as likely as men to develop the cancer from smoking, but also more likely than men to get nonsmoking-associated lung cancer. Even with early diagnosis, 30,000 more women will die each year from lung cancer than breast cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women.
The majority of lung-cancer victims (60 percent) are not current smokers; they either had quit or never smoked. Yet sufferers are often met with a lack of support or sympathy because people often believe that they have brought it upon themselves, according to the Lung Cancer Alliance, an organization dedicated to supporting and advocating for people affected by the disease. “It’s not just a smoker’s disease,” says Kay Cofrancesco, the alliance’s director of external relations. “We want to shift the paradigm.” While smoking increases lung-cancer risk, it’s not the only cause. Secondhand smoke, exposure to radon gas and other harmful airborne materials are all believed to play a role. In addition, some researchers attribute a higher incidence of lung cancer in women to higher estrogen levels.
Early diagnosis is difficult because the symptoms of lung cancer are similar to other common illnesses, and many sufferers don’t experience them until they reach the late stages of the disease. If you have a history of smoking or a first-degree relative with lung cancer, or have been exposed to harmful materials, talk to a physician and discuss early detection strategies. After a physical exam, your doctor will likely recommend one of the following diagnostic tests:
Chest X-ray This is the most common test for lung cancer, but unfortunately, small tumors are not always visible on the two-dimensional image.
Computed tomography (CT) scan Also known as a CAT scan, this test can detect small tumors and help your doctor determine where the cancer may have spread.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Magnetic fields are used to create clear images that will spot tumors in tissues, muscles, nerves and bones.
Thoracoscopy A surgical procedure that explores the surface of the lungs and the chest wall lining.
To learn more as well as find a helpful list of questions to ask your doctor, log on to lungcanceralliance.org or click here to assess your risk with this web tool.
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4 Reader Comments:
Thank you for publishing a story bringing attention to lung cancer! There is an error here though. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the US. It’s not the second leading cause. It kills more people than breast, prostate, liver, colon and uterine combined. It kills twice as many women as breast cancer.
Just wanted to add that.. but thank you for shining a light on lung cancer!
I bookmarked your blog, thanks for sharing this very interesting post
http://www.cancerworldalliance.biz
Thank you for this story. I wonder how many women get lung cancer due to exposure to second hand smoke as children? I feel so sad when I see adults smoking with children near by.
According to the American Lung Association, secondhand smoke causes about 3,400 lung cancer deaths in the U.S. each year. It is not yet known how many of those are due to exposure as children, but you’re right — that could be worse: A 2007 study concluded that those who were exposed to secondhand smoke before the age of 25 were more likely to get lung cancer as adults because they were exposed while their lungs were still developing.