When you think of women and cancer, chances are lung cancer isn’t the first disease to come to mind. But it should be. More women die of lung cancer each year than breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer combined. In fact, 200,000 women are diagnosed with the disease each year, and that rate is on the rise.

“It’s clear that lung cancer is more common in female non-smokers than it is in male non-smokers,” says Dr. Anand Shah, Radiation Oncologist on staff at Adventist Hinsdale and Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospitals. “This is surprising since overall more men are diagnosed yearly with lung cancer than women. As physicians, we are trying to determine if there are any differences in the behaviors of cancers in non-smokers.”

Contributing factors to lung cancer in non-smokers
Exposure to second-hand smoke and environmental factors, such as radon in homes, contribute to the rise in lung cancer among non-smoking women. Researchers are looking into whether estrogen and other hormones may play a role in making women more susceptible to the disease.

The good news is that non-smoking women who are diagnosed with lung cancer tend to have a better survival rate than non-smoking men and smokers of both genders.

The benefits of screening methods for early-stage lung cancer are still being debated, so being aware of the symptoms and communicating with your physician is key in diagnosing lung cancer in its early, most treatable stages.

Could my cough be cancer?
“Lung cancer is rarely found by chance or during a routine physical,” says Dr. Shah. “Most often it is discovered after it has already led to some larger symptoms.” He encourages women and men alike to be aware of these warning signs:

• Persistent cough or a change in chronic coughing
• Wheezing
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Coughing up blood
• Unexplained weight loss

Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, targeted drug therapy or a combination of these methods. The physicians at Adventist Midwest Health believe communication is critical in providing the best care possible. At cancer conferences, Adventist surgeons, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists meet to discuss each patient and create a unique “whole-patient” treatment plan. Knowing your treatment plan is tailor-made for you by a team of experts gives you peace of mind throughout the treatment and recovery process.

Call 866-533-7968 to schedule an appointment with an Adventist Midwest Health physician.