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The Current State of Women's Lung Cancer

Lung cancer, simply described, is an uncontrolled overgrowth of cells in the lungs. This overgrowth is called a tumor, and these cells can spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body. Lung cancer is classified according to cell type, and there are several different types of cells in the lungs that can be affected. In general, lung cancer is classified as either (a) small cell lung cancer or (b) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC is further categorized into several subtypes.

Facts and Statistics

According to current estimates, in 2008, there will be 100,330 new cases of lung cancer in women. While lung cancer has been blamed solely on smoking for quite some time, it is increasingly evident that non-smokers, especially women, are also at risk for developing lung cancer.

• Women have been shown to exhibit better survival than men at every stage of disease.
• Also, women who have never smoked are more responsive to new drugs that target NSCLC.

More ...

• Breast cancer is diagnosed twice as often as lung cancer, but lung cancer kills twice as many women as breast cancer
• Women seem to be more susceptible
• The number of women non-smokers who develop lung cancer (20% of cases) is double that of their male counterparts (5-10%)
• Women who did smoke develop lung cancer at a younger age, and have smoked fewer cigarettes than men.
• Adenocarcinoma and Bronchoalveolar Carcinoma (BAC) are specific types of NSCLC most common in women.

Women's Lung Cancer Program

The Women's Lung Cancer Program offers a comprehensive range of innovative and integrated treatment options for women who have been diagnosed with lung cancer. A multidisciplinary team of specialists - including surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, pulmonologists, cardiologists, radiologists, pathologists, nurses, physical therapists, dietitians, and social workers - work together to provide the most advanced care for women with lung cancer. The Women's Lung Cancer Program also offers a wide range of support services, including the Women's Lung Cancer Forum, nutritional services, and post-operative services for women undergoing surgical therapy for lung cancer.

Treatment & Programs

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