Lung Cancer Now Affects More Young Women than Young Men

Lung Cancer Now Affects More Young Women than Young Men

For much of history, men have had higher rates of lung cancer than women for people age 35-54.  However, in a new study released in 2018, it turns out that now young women are more likely to develop lung cancer than young men.

Lung Cancer Has Decreased Overall

While this shift in demographics is surprising, there is good news.  Overall, lung cancer rates have decreased across the board.  Much of this can be attributed to a decrease in smoking rates.  In fact, 85% of lung cancer is related to smoking so by quitting smoking, you can substantially decrease your risk of developing this cancer.

Why Women Are More At Risk

While it may seem that smoking is to blame, most researchers believe that smoking alone can’t explain this shift.   Women and men typically have almost the same rates of smoking and in some populations men still have a higher rate of smoking than women.

Rather than women doing something that is causing this shift, it’s more likely that men are quitting at higher rates than women.  When a person stops smoking, their risk of cancer begins to decrease over time.

But for women, this risk of cancer decreases slower than it does for men.  This could be why men have fewer cases of lung cancer.  Women could be more likely to develop illness as a result of their smoking and exposure to other risk factors.

However, scientists still need to continue their research to determine if this is in fact the reason.  

Lung Cancer Can Occur Early in Life

Lung cancer isn’t always on the radar for young people when they consider their health choices.  You may believe that lung cancer only occurs in older populations.  But most people start smoking at an early age – their young teen years – and that means that lung cancer can occur early in life.

Instead of thinking that you might develop cancer in your 60s or 70s, consider that you could develop it as young as 40.  If you’re a smoker, the best health decision you can make is to stop as soon as possible.

Quitting smoking, regardless of your sex, is going to allow your body to begin reversing the damage caused by cigarettes.  While women tend to have a slower reversal, the reversal still occurs and it’s important to give yourself the best chance at reducing your risk of this life limiting cancer.