A new face of lung cancer is emerging: young, non-smoking women
In the past, lung cancer has been tied to older, male adults who are smokers. Lung cancer is no longer defined by those labels and the new face of lung cancer may surprise you.
Today, nearly 20% of new diagnoses are made in people who have never smoked, and they are mostly women. Experts at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) say radon levels in the home, air pollution and genetic mutations are the main culprits, and encourage patients to advocate for their health.
“If you have an unexplained or lingering cough, chest discomfort, fatigue or shortness of breath, don’t ignore it as your lungs may be trying to tell you something important,” said Ioana Baiu, MD, a thoracic surgeon at the OSUCCC – James. “The number-one cause for lung cancer in nonsmokers is radon exposure. Air pollution and secondhand smoke have also been implicated.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 10% to 20% of lung cancers in the United States, or 20,000 to 40,000 lung cancers each year, happen in people who never smoked or smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime.
Baiu stresses the need for awareness as the difference between stage 1 and stage 2 lung cancer can be drastic.
“At stage 1, lung cancer can be surgically removed, usually without the need for further treatment like chemotherapy,” explained Baiu, also an assistant professor at Ohio State College of Medicine. “At stage 2, the lung cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and patients will need systemic therapy in addition to surgery.”
Importance of lung cancer screening In the U.S., lung cancer is the No. 1 cause of cancer deaths in both men and women, claiming more lives than breast, ovarian, colon, kidney, melanoma, prostate and testicular cancers combined. Lung cancer screening has been proven to reduce lung cancer deaths among high-risk individuals by more than 20%.
Baiu is an advocate for lung cancer screening. She believes screening guidelines should be expanded and more widely available to non-smokers and younger patients.
“We're working to advocate for broader screening guidelines by emphasizing that anybody can get cancer,” said Baiu. “Lung cancer doesn't discriminate and it's important to educate yourself and listen to your body.”
In general, lung cancer screening is recommended once a year for people who are 50-80 years old, a current smoker with a history of smoking one pack per day for 20 years, and ex-smokers who have quit within the past 15 years. Individuals should consult their doctor about whether screening is right for them.
To learn more about cancer treatment and clinical trials at the OSUCCC – James, visit cancer.osu.edu or call 1-800-293-5066.