Much focus has been given to breast cancer over the past two decades. Breast cancer affects many women -- and some men -- each year. According to the American Cancer Society, one in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer in her lifetime.
Although breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women, lung cancer has the highest mortality rate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that even though more women get breast cancer, more women die from lung cancer than breast cancer each year.
In fact, lung cancer has the highest mortality rate for women and men out of all cancer types in the United States and in the United Kingdom.
With little attention being paid to lung cancer, you may ask yourself what causes lung cancer, who is at risk and how you can help prevent lung cancer from developing. As much as you thought you knew about lung cancer, the answers will surprise you.
What are the causes of lung cancer in women?
U.S. News & World Report recently tried to find out why more women are getting lung cancer than ever before. Sadly, lung cancer in women is on the rise. While breast cancer is still the most common cancer in women, lung cancer has seen a steady increase in recent years. Lung cancer in men has dropped 28 percent in the past 37 years. However, it has increased by 98 percent in women. Doctors are startled by such a surge of lung cancer cases in women.
Historically, smoking has been associated with lung cancer. That is still true today; in fact, smoking is still responsible for four out of five lung cancer cases. However, a stunning incidence of lung cancer in women who don’t smoke is occurring. One in five women who have lung cancer has never picked up a cigarette. These cases pose the biggest concerns.