World Lung Day: Why Lung Cancer Remains The Top Risk For Death In Women, Even Those Who Do Not Smoke

Lung cancer, as the World Health Organization (WHO) reports, is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in most men and women, causing the death of an estimated 635,547 people in the US in 2022. However, a surprising statistic arose when the number of deaths caused by lung cancer in men dropped however, in women it has increased. The reason, suggest some researchers, could be because of a unique immune system in women that makes them more vulnerable to lung cancer. Find more information below:For a long time, breast cancer has been a well-known health concern for women. However, over the past two decades, lung cancer rates in women have risen. According to the Lung Cancer Research Foundation, over 600,000 women die of lung cancer each year and one in 17 women will develop lung cancer in their lifetime. This shift highlights a changing dynamic in who is affected by this disease, and it's a trend that's especially noticeable as smoking rates decline. A surprising factor that has also been noted is that 20% of lung cancer diagnoses occur in non-smokers. What has caused these statistics and why are non-smokers at risk? Why Lung Cancer Is on the Rise in Women According to the Brown Health University, several factors may explain why women are increasingly affected by lung cancer: Increased Vulnerability Studies suggest that female smokers may be more likely to develop lung cancer than male smokers, even with similar levels of cigarette exposure. Higher Rates in Non-Smokers A larger proportion of women diagnosed with lung cancer are people who have never smoked. Slower Decline in Smoking The drop in smoking rates has been more significant among men than women, which has led to a more dramatic decrease in male lung cancer cases. These combined factors suggest that as society moves away from tobacco, the risk of lung cancer seems to be disproportionately affecting women. Why are Non-Smokers At Risk for Lung Cancer? Brown Health University also states that while smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, about 15% of all cases are diagnosed in people who have never smoked. For women with lung cancer, this number is even higher at 24%. The exact reasons for lung cancer in non-smokers aren't fully understood, but it's likely due to a combination of environmental and biological factors. The lungs are constantly exposed to our surroundings, and things like secondhand smoke, radon gas, air pollution, and even certain viruses can increase a person's risk. Some researchers also speculate that a woman’s unique immune system, designed to tolerate a fetus during pregnancy, might make her more vulnerable to early lung cancers that an immune system might otherwise clear. What Is The Best Way To Combat High Lung Cancer Numbers? The best tool for lung cancer screening is a CT scan. However, it's not recommended for people with a very low risk of the disease, such as those who have never smoked. The potential for harm, like finding benign growths that lead to unnecessary tests and procedures, outweighs the benefits in these cases. Lung cancer screening is typically recommended for active smokers or heavy former smokers between the ages of 55 and 80. If you fit this criteria, you should speak with your doctor to see if you qualify. What Are The First Symptoms Of Lung Cancer? Unfortunately, the early symptoms of lung cancer are often confused with common respiratory infection like a common cold. These can include a Persistent new cough Shortness of breath Wheezing Hoarseness While it's hard to ask healthy people to be on the lookout for such common symptoms, it's important to seek medical attention if these symptoms are unusually severe, long-lasting, or unexplained. Lung Cancer Risk For People Who Never Smoked Brown Health states that there is good news for non-smokers diagnosed with lung cancer. Their tumors often have specific genetic mutations (like EGFR, ALK, or ROS1) that can be treated with highly effective targeted drugs, which are often more successful than traditional chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Doctors now routinely test all patients with advanced lung cancer for these mutations. As society becomes smoke-free, the overall death rate from lung cancer will continue to fall. However, thousands of Americans will still develop the disease from past exposure or for reasons unrelated to smoking. We must continue to push for better treatments and increased compassion for all lung cancer patients, regardless of their smoking history.

World Lung Day: Why Lung Cancer Remains The Top Risk For Death In Women, Even Those Who Do Not Smoke

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