Lung Cancer in Women More Resilient Than Men

Lung cancer knows no gender, both men and women. But it turns out that women tend to be better able to survive from all stages of lung cancer compared to men.

Lung Cancer in Women More Resilient Than Men

Currently the number of women affected by lung cancer is increasing. Unlike men, the percentage of women affected by lung cancer is more common in women who do not or have never smoked. And age of women diagnosed with lung cancer on average younger than men.

Some studies suggest women are more susceptible to carcinogens present in cigarette thus making it easier to develop lung cancer if only a little smoke or even never at all.

Women who get lung cancer will also respond to chemotherapy better than men. One of the new targeted therapies such as with erlotinib also seems to be more effective for women, especially the young.

These conditions make women more likely to survive from all stages of lung cancer so as to provide little advantage compared with men.

Overall survival rate for lung cancer patients for 5 years for men by 12 percent, while for women slightly higher at 16 percent.

Until now, smoking is still the leading cause of lung cancer in both men and women, while exposure of inhaled substances in the workplace or the environment is still small. Besides lung cancer can also occur if the pre-existing scar tissue caused by other lung diseases.

Some of the symptoms associated with lung cancer among other respiratory disorders such as cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain and coughing up blood (haemoptysis). This cancer generally does not show any symptoms are visible from the outside if the cell growth has not been severe.