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Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Jenna Spivak
Online Communications and
Social Media Coordinator
Please Note: The content found
on this Blog is for informational
purposes only. It should not be
a substitute for professional
medical advice, diagnosis, or
treatment. If you have any
questions regarding a personal
medical condition, you should
always ask your physician.
Never ignore medical advice or
postpone care due to something
you have read on our site.
All Blog posts are reviewed and
approved by the physician cited
in the article, as well as by
Steven J. Davidson, MD, Chief
Medical Informatics Officer
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 When most women think of the word ‘cancer,’ it’s often breast cancer that comes to mind. It affects more women in New York than any other type of cancer, has the support of many organizations (both medical and commercial) and even has its own color – pink. You may be surprised, then, to discover that lung cancer is actually the leading cause of cancer death among women. I’ve written about smoking on the blog before – specifically on how to quit – but it’s important to understand how smoking affects our bodies in order to be aware of specific risk factors.
The CDC reports that 16.8% of the adult population (aged 18+ years) in New York currently smokes cigarettes. While men and women smoke in relatively equal numbers (17.8% and 15.8% respectively), women diagnosed with lung cancer are reported to have a lower survival rate.
Why is this the case? Well, like many medical ailments that affect women more than men, it may have to do with hormones. According to Dr. Loren Harris, Chief of General Thoracic Surgery, “A recent study states that while it is unclear whether estrogens alone can trigger the development of lung cancer, they may promote progression of established lung cancer.” So if you have already developed lung cancer, hormones may increase tumor growth and spread of the disease. “In New York City, the biggest group of new smokers is teenage women,” states Dr. Harris. “This study suggests that young women who smoke have an additive effect from tobacco and estrogen, increasing their risk of developing lung cancer.” Essentially, estrogen may make women more susceptible to the genetic changes that lead to lung cancer.
While not all lung cancer is attributed to smoking (about 10% of lung cancer deaths in men and 20% in women are caused by other factors), smoking cessation is the best way to reduce your risk, and the risk of your loved ones. If you’ve tried to quit, but need help, click here to read more.
Lung Cancer Risk Factors
- Exposure to tobacco smoke
- Exposure to toxic respiratory substances (e.g. Asbestos)
- Air pollution
- Family history
- Tuberculosis or chronic bronchitis
- Exposure to radon
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