An Overview of Lung Cancer in Women

Every year, the 1st of August is observed as World Lung Cancer Day. In the US, lung cancer in women is the second leading form of cancer and a major cause of cancer-related deaths. Every one out of 17 American women runs the risk of developing lung cancer. And this rate has been increasing for the past few years. More women lose their lives to lung cancer each year than colorectal and breast cancer combined. While the treatment is similar for both men and women, several factors determine the course of treatment.  

Causes

Lung cancer occurs when the DNA within the lung cells undergoes an abnormal change or mutation that makes them multiply at an unprecedented speed. This mutation can be due to several factors, but the most common cause is smoke. Tobacco smoke from cigars, cigarettes, or even secondhand smoke contains thousands of carcinogens that damage the lung cells and cause changes in the lung tissue. While this damage can be repaired initially, repeated exposure for a long time can cause cancer. Some other causes of lung cancer include:

Genetics

A family history of lung cancer makes it highly probable for some people to develop the disease.

Radiation

Radiation therapy, especially to the chest for any previous type of cancer, may risk developing lung cancer.  

Asbestos

Inhaling smoke from asbestos or any similar kind of carcinogen can also increase the risk of developing lung cancer. Houses built from 1930 to 1950 may have used asbestos as insulation. Asbestos can be present in textured paint, patching compounds, artificial ashes, and embers used in gas-fired fireplaces, furnaces, and other insulation materials .

Radon Gas

If you are exposed to high levels of radon gas over a prolonged period, it may also cause lung cancer. Common sources of Radon gas in homes are soil, building materials, and tap water sourced from the ground.

Symptoms

The symptoms of lung cancer in women usually appear once the disease has reached an advanced stage. Some of the symptoms include:

• Chest pain
• Coughing Blood
• Fatigue
• Chronic Cough  
• Shortness of Breath
• Hoarse Voice
• Weight Loss

Diagnosis

There are several ways to diagnose lung cancer. Generally, if it is detected early, there is a higher chance that the treatment will be successful. Therefore, long-term smokers or people with a family history of lung cancer must get regular screenings for the disease. Some of the most common methods to diagnose the disease include:  

Imaging Tests

This includes detailed images of lungs and chests that doctors use to check for any signs of cancer. This may include x-rays, CT scans, or PET scans.

Sputum Cytology

Sputum is mucus that is coughed up from your lungs. It is examined under a microscope to check for cancerous cells.

Thoracentesis

In this test, fluid or air is removed from around the lungs to check for cancer .  

Tissue Biopsy

A sample of your lung tissue is tested for cancerous cells using a thin hollow needle. 

Types

Lung cancer can be classified into two types :

Small Cell Lung Cancer

Around 10 to 15% of patients suffer from this lung cancer. It not only grows quickly but also spreads aggressively to other organs.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Nearly 80% of patients suffer from this type of cancer. This type of lung cancer can be further subdivided into adenocarcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.

Stages

During the diagnosis process, doctors also try to determine the stage of cancer and whether and how far it has spread.  

Stage 0

At this stage, the cancer is small and has not yet spread into the deeper tissues of the lungs.  

Stage 1

Cancer has entered the lung tissue at this stage but has not started spreading.

Stage 2

At this stage, the cancer is not only in the lung tissue but also starts spreading in the nearby lymph nodes.  

Stage 3

In the third stage, cancer spreads actively to the nearby lymph nodes like the heart or intestinal tract.

Stage 4

This is the last stage of lung cancer, where it has spread throughout the body and even to the distant lymph nodes and tissues like the brain etc.

Treatment

While there are several options for the treatment of lung cancer in women, the success of it depends on the unique condition of every patient, like their personal preference, overall health, or stage of cancer. These are some of the common lung cancer treatments.

Chemotherapy

This treatment involves a single medicine or a combination of several medications to destroy cancer cells. Under systematic chemotherapy, drugs travel through the blood and attack the cancer cells. It is ideal for cancer that has spread beyond the original tumor. Common chemotherapy drugs include Gemcitabine, Paclitaxel, Vinorelbine, and Carboplatin. Chemotherapy is often combined with surgery or any other type of treatment.

Immunotherapy

Under this type of treatment, the patient’s immune system is used to fight cancer. Since cancer develops from normal cells, your immune system may fail to recognize it as a threat. Immunotherapy helps the immune system not only find cancer but also slow and stop it from spreading.

Radiation Therapy

This treatment uses highly focused radiation beams like X-rays to destroy cancer cells. This treatment is usually combined with surgery and chemotherapy to remove the cancerous cells from the body.  

Targeted Drug Therapy

This treatment employs drugs that are designed to target some specific features within the cancer cells. The drugs destroy the cancer cells by disabling them. This type of treatment is also combined with other forms of treatment like chemotherapy or surgery.

Surgery

Surgery can be a good option if cancer has not spread beyond your lungs. However, the type of surgery depends on the size and location of the tumor or the type of cancer. These are some of the most common forms of surgery.

Wedge Resection

This procedure involves the removal of a small section of your lung that contains  cancerous cells.  

Segmentectomy

This involves the removal of a small segment of your lung.

Lobectomy

While the right lung has three lobes, the left has two, and lobectomy involves removing a lobe from one lung.

Pneumonectomy

This procedure involves the removal of the entire lung.

Transplantation

In a few cases, patients are often eligible for lung transplantation. Healthy lungs are harvested from a diseased donor. However, due to the high risk of occurrence, patients are rarely eligible for this procedure.

Success Rate

The success rate of the treatment depends on several factors, including the stage and type of cancer, the health of the patient, or maybe even an underlying condition.

Recurrence

This type of cancer will likely come back within the first five years after treatment. Due to this, patients are advised to return for regular follow-ups. Doctors try to look for any possible symptoms, but the good news is that the risk of recurrence lowers as time passes.

Survival Rates

According to the American Cancer Society , the five-year survival rate of lung cancer patients can be divided into three categories. This usually depends on whether the cancer is localized (only in the lung), regional (lymph nodes or nearby organs), or distant (throughout the body). The overall survival rate for lung cancer is 26 percent.