Women’s Cancer Week 3: Lung Cancer

Who’s At Risk

The Mayo Clinic reports that three of every five people diagnosed with lung cancer die within a year. It’s a disease that takes more American lives per year than colon, prostate, lymph, and, breast cancers combined. And as women, we are at a greater risk than men of developing the disease.

The most disturbing thing about these statistics is that, despite the high fatality numbers, lung cancer can most often be prevented. Jill Heins Nesvold, director of respiratory health at The American Lung Association of Minnesota, hopes to educate more Minnesotans about risk factors.

“We want to make sure people don’t smoke and aren’t around people that smoke,” she says. “But not all lung cancer is caused by smoking. We need more public awareness of radon [gas], which is the second leading cause. In Minnesota, we’re in a geologic hotbed for higher radon than other areas. You need to test your home for radon because you would have no way of knowing it’s there.”

In addition to gender, smoking, second-hand smoke, and radon exposure, there are other risk factors to point out. Exposure to asbestos and other chemicals in your home or workplace, a family history of lung cancer, and excessive alcohol intake can all increase your risk of developing the disease.

Symptoms

While the causes are easily identifiable, symptoms of lung cancer are not.

“One of the challenges is trying to identify symptoms because so many are similar to those of other illnesses,” Heins Nesvold says. “Symptoms usually don’t present themselves until it’s too late. One of the things we’re working on is funding research to find better early screening and assessment tools. Right now, there’s not a good way to identify it early.”

Once symptoms do present themselves, they might include a cough that doesn’t go away, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, wheezing, or chest pain.

Treatment

Treatment differs based on the type and stage of lung cancer. There are two major types: small-cell lung cancer (less common; occurs in heavy smokers) and non-small-cell lung cancer (more common; includes adenocarcinoma, squamous carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma). Types differ by how tumor cells appear under a microscope.

Depending on the stage, both types are treated with combinations of the following: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, target drug therapy, supportive care, and clinical trials. Surgeries range from removal of a small section of the lung to removal of the entire lung.

More Awareness

"Paul Newman recently passed away from lung cancer,” Heins Nesvold says. “And though it was a tragedy, I hope it makes lung cancer more prominent in the media. Not everyone that has lung cancer is someone who smoked. Not everyone ‘deserves it.’ We need to work hard to change the mindset of who gets lung cancer. Nobody deserves this horrible disease.”

Local Resources

+ American Lung Association of Minnesota: One of the oldest voluntary health organizations in the country, The American Lung Association of Minnesota offers statewide programs to improve air quality, support groups for people with the disease, smoking cessation programs, educational seminars, and more for Twin Citians.

+ Lung HelpLine: Registered nurses and respiratory therapists are on hand to answer questions about the disease at 1-800-548-8252.

+ Lung Cancer Alliance: This national organization offers local support groups for patients and caregivers at Methodist Hospital – Park Nicollet Cancer Center, Regions Hospital, and North Memorial Medical Center.

+ U of M’s Masonic Cancer Center: The Cancer U: Ask the Experts series is free community service to cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and others affected by cancer. Check out Emerging Trends in Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment on November 6, 2008. Masonic also offers a free cancer information hotline at 612-226-2376.