Lung Cancer Remains Top Cancer Killer of Women

National Foundation for Cancer Research
Wednesday, 24 April 2002

Lung cancer remains the top cause of cancer death of women in the United States. Although perceived as a "man's disease", lung cancer is currently the leading cause of cancer death for both women and men, responsible for approximately 31% of all cancer deaths in men and 25% of cancer deaths in women. In both the UK and US, lung cancer now kills more women than breast cancer.

Researchers are finding that the effects of tobacco seem to be far more damaging to women than to men. Women are one and a half times more likely than men to develop lung cancer even when they smoke fewer cigarettes over a shorter period of time. There are data to suggest that estrogen may promote cancer development in women exposed to tobacco. And female patients with lung cancer are less likely to be able to repair damaged DNA than male patients -- an indicator of a possible heightened predisposition to cancer.

Other lung cancer facts:

• Lung cancer kills more men and women in the United States than any other form of cancer (estimated 154,900 deaths in 2002).


• 80% of all lung cancer cases are related to smoking. Genetics and environmental conditions cause the additional 20%.


• Symptoms of lung cancer include persistent coughing; persistent chest, shoulder or back pain; shortness of breath, fatigue; repeated bronchitis or coughing up blood.


• Lung cancer is most often caught at an advanced stage allowing only 10% of all lung cancer patients to be cured of the disease. If surgery cannot correct upon discovery, there is a 50% chance of death in less than a year.


• Those who are concerned about lung cancer should see their doctors who may order a chest x-ray and other diagnostic tests. Lung cancer is a significant threat to former smokers, who retain a heightened risk for lung cancer throughout the remainder of their lives.

Current treatments for lung cancer are disappointing, and since this is a major threat to women, the National Foundation for Cancer Research is supporting research towards preventing lung cancer development in women at high risk. NFCR Project Director, Dr. Waun Ki Hong at the M..D. Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas is conducting research to prevent lung cancer development in women at high risk. Dr. Hong's group is performing a multitude of laboratory and clinical studies to explore the underlying molecular and genetic causes of lung cancer, which will allow them to better identify and treat lung cancer. A large-scale clinical study with 1295 patients has been conducted to investigate the chemopreventive activity of a gene that has demonstrated chemopreventive activity in head and neck cancer, in early-stage lung cancer patients at the M..D. Anderson Cancer Center. For further information on Dr. Hong's research regarding women and lung cancer, visit www.NFCR.org.

The National Foundation for Cancer Research, a cancer related charity fully dedicated to advancing basic science cancer research, was formed in 1973 to support basic science cancer research relating to the prevention, treatment and cure of cancer. NFCR's mission, "Research for a Cure," is accomplished through the generosity of private individuals. NFCR has provided over $180 million dollars funding discovery-oriented research that is responsible for many current breakthroughs in the prevention, diagnosis, and new treatments of all types of cancer. For further information please call (800) 321-CURE or visit www.NFCR.org.

For more information, or to contact National Foundation for Cancer Research, see their website at: www.researchforacure.com