10 Things Every Woman Should Know About Lung Cancer

By Lynette Summerill
Originally Published on EmpowHER - Women's Health Online (http://www.empowher.com/).
10/07/2010.

Lynette Summerill is an award-winning writer who lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. In addition to writing about cancer-related issues, she writes a blog, Nonsmoking Nation, which follows global tobacco news and events.

1. Lung cancer affects women differently than men, and young women (under 40) are at greater risk for developing lung cancer than young men.

2. More women die of lung cancer than any other cancer, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer and uterine cancers combined. Smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer, so if you smoke, quit.

3. Your risk of lung cancer continues to decline with every year you don't smoke. However, if you used to smoke, you remain at increased risk for lung cancer for at least 20 years after you quit.

4. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, so if you live in an area with high levels of radium in the bedrock, have your house tested for radon exposure. To find out more, go to http://jglcf.org/radon.aspx.

5. Risk factors for lung cancer other than smoking include lung scarring from infection with tuberculosis and occupational or environmental exposures to radon, second-hand smoke, radiation, asbestos, air pollution, arsenic and some organic chemicals.  [And genetic predisposition. - Joe Gaeta]

6. Symptoms of lung cancer may include a cough that won't go away, chest, shoulder or back pain that won't go away, unexplained wheezing, shortness of breath, hoarseness, coughing up blood, swelling in the neck and face, difficulty swallowing, weight loss and loss of appetite, increasing fatigue and weakness, and recurring respiratory infections such as pneumonia.

7. Lung cancer, like any other cancer, is most treatable when detected early. If you smoke now or smoked in the past, or have a family history of lung cancer, talk to your doctor about screening tests available to you.

8. Although lung cancer is a serious disease, women typically fare better than men after treatment for lung cancer.  [When treated early enough. - JG]

9. Eating a well balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables helps reduce the risk of lung cancer.

10. Lung cancer research is significantly under-funded, despite the fact that lung cancer is the number one cancer killer of women in the U.S. Less money is spent on lung cancer research than on the next three top cancer killers. [To find out more information about lung cancer and how you can help, go to http://www.forjoan.org. - JG]