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Smoking Still Leading Lung Cancer Cause, but Fewer in U.S. are Puffing

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For the first time since cancer statistics have been monitored, fewer U.S. women are getting lung cancer and dying from the disease.

According to the Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, between 2003-2008, lung cancer rates among U.S. women began falling after steadily increasing for decades. The decrease comes nearly a decade after rates began dropping for men.

The report, coauthored by researchers from the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and American Cancer Society, points out the drop in the number of lung cancer cases corresponds closely with smoking patterns across the nation.

Lower lung cancer rates were visible in 35 states for men, but only six states for women, which were California, Florida, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, and Washington, the report said.

In the West, where smoking prevalence is lower among men and women than in other regions, lung cancer incidence is decreasing faster than other parts of the country. Studies show declines in lung cancer rates can be seen as soon as five years after smoking rates decline.

Among women, lung cancer rates are still highest among white women (55.9 out of 100,000) compared to other racial groups.

Several public policy strategies are responsible for the decline according to the report, which are the latest figures available. These policies include higher tobacco prices, hard–hitting media campaigns, 100 percent smoke-free policies, and easily accessible quitting treatments and services for those who want to quit.

What is Lung Cancer?
Most lung cancer is tumors that start in the cells lining the bronchial tubes, a part of the human respiratory system. When cancer starts in the lungs, it's called primary lung cancer. If cancer starts somewhere else and spreads to the lungs, it’s called metastatic cancer to the lungs.

There are two main types of lung cancer: Non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. Of the two types, non-small cell is the most common. About 20 percent of lung cancers cases are small cell. It is possible for a person to have both cancer types at once, which is called mixed small cell/large cell cancer, though this is rare.

Lung cancer is the deadliest of all cancers among men and women over age 45. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of breast, colon, and prostate cancers combined.

Cigarette smoking and exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke cause most(about 90 percent) of lung cancer deaths in the United States. As many as 3,000 more adults die each year from lung cancer related to secondhand smoke, according to the American Cancer Society.

For smokers, the more cigarettes you smoke per day and the earlier you started smoking, the greater your risk for lung cancer. There are no safe cigarettes. Evidence to date shows smoking low-tar cigarettes doesn’t lower the risk.

Among men, African American men are affected by lung cancer more than men of other races, (95.1 per 100,000) about twice that of Hispanic men, the report said.

Experts agree the most important thing a man or woman can do to prevent lung cancer is to not start smoking, or to quit if he or she currently smokes.

Smokers can get free resources and help quitting by calling 1–800–QUIT–NOW (784–8669) or visiting www.smokefree.gov

Lynette Summerill, an award-winning writer and scuba enthusiast lives in San Diego, CA with her husband and two beach loving dogs. In addition to writing about cancer-related issues for EmpowHER, her work has been seen in newspapers and magazines around the world.

Sources:

U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. United States Cancer Statistics: 1999–2007 Incidence and Mortality Web-based Report. Atlanta (GA): Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Cancer Institute; 2010. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/uscs
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/dsCancerAnnualReport

CDC Report. Lung cancer rates decline nationwide. 15 September 2011. Accessed online 1 February 2012 at: http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2011/p0915_lung_cancer.html

CDC.Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 15 September 2011. Accessed online 1 February 2012 at:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr

PubMed Health. Lung Cancer accessed online 1 February 2012 at:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004529

EPA Fact Sheet. Asbestos. Accessed online 1 Feb. 2012 at:
http://www.epa.gov/asbestos

Reviewed February 7, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.