What Every Woman Should Know About Lung Cancer

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.

3. Smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer, so if you smoke, quit.

4. 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.

5. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. The Surgeon General of the United States has urged Americans to test their homes for radon exposure. To find out more, click here.

6. 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.

7. 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 or 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.

8. 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 that may be available to you.

9. Although lung cancer is a serious disease, women typically fare better than men after treatment for lung cancer.

10. Eating a well balanced diet – including fruits and vegetables – helps reduce the risk of lung cancer.

11. 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. You can help!