Here Are The Signs Of Lung Cancer in Women

While the signs, symptoms and risk factors of lung cancer are usually similar between men and women, the rates between the genders actually differ.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) says that lung cancer, both small cell and non-small cell, is considered the second most common type of cancer in both males and females, aside from skin cancer which is considered the most common of all. And for both genders, lung cancer is also ‘the leading cause of cancer-related death.’

A report in the American Lung Association shares that the rates of lung cancer in males has decreased by 35% over the last 41 years. Females, on the other hand, their rate has actually risen by an alarming 87%.

Here, we take a look into the signs, symptoms, effects, risk factors and treatments for lung cancer in women.

Here Are the Symptoms of Lung Cancer

Both men and women encounter very similar symptoms when it comes to lung cancer. These can include wheezing, shortness of breath, fatigue, loss of appetite, wheezing, persistent, worsening cough, weight loss, ongoing chest pain, coughing up blood and recurrent lung infections like bronchitis or pneumonia.If you or someone you love happens to suffer from any of these symptoms, be sure to seek medical professional help immediately.

Here Are the Risk Factors of Lung Cancer

Just like the symptoms above, the risk factors of lung cancer are also similar in both genders. They can include cigarette smoke, exposure to asbestos, smoke, or radon, exposure to secondhand smoke, a family history of lung cancer, a personal history of lung disease – including lung cancer as well, and a poor diet. However, smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke is still the most substantial risk factor when it comes to lung cancer.

Here Are the Genetic and Hormonal Differences

Published in Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, a 2014 review proposed that particular genes and hormones actually contribute to an elevated lung cancer mortality rate in women, which we’ve listed below.

1. Genetics

When it comes to genetics, researchers have since identified numerous genes that could explain the different rates of lung cancer between males and females. While one person can inherit some of these genes, tobacco exposure could actually activate the others.

2. KRAS

The gene Kras, as well as any mutation of this gene, can make any cancerous tumors grow quicker. Moreover, a mutation of this gene can also make tumors more likely to spread. The 2014 review also suggests that KRAS mutations will also make the lung cancer growth develop even faster when it’s exposed to estrogen, which is the female sex hormone, as well as to other hormones.

3. GRPR

In the review, GRPR, otherwise known as gastric-releasing peptide receptor, is associated with the growth of cancer cells too. This is one receptor that happens to be more active in females, while its exposure to estrogen could possibly increase its cancer-growing effects as well.

EGFR

Epidermal growth factor or EGFR is a protein that is normally present in individuals that are diagnosed with lung cancer. The mutations in the gene that produce EGFR are also much more common in women than they are in men.

HER2 is also considered a part of the EGFR group of genes that happens to be present in a number of adenocarcinoma cases. HER2 has also been linked to a poorer survival rate among females diagnosed with lung cancer.

4. Estrogen

Research has found estrogen receptors on the lung cancer cells of both men and women. It was in the same 2014 review that spoke on genes and hormones in lung cancer development where that researchers showed how estrogen actually boosted the growth of tumor cells. The review also shares ‘the cancer-suppressing effects of treatments that block estrogen.’

Notably, the long-term exposure to estrogen can also affect he risk of lung cancer. Factors that that could affect estrogen levels are the age of a female’s first menstruation, the number of pregnancies one has had if any, and the age that menstruation begins.

Here Are the Treatments for Lung Cancer

What can be considered the “right” treatment for lung cancer truly depends on the cancer’s state at diagnosis. Some cases allow a surgeon to remove the small tumors that have not yet spread. Some doctors may also recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy to further support the surgery to make sure that no cancerous cells remain behind.

When a patient’s lung cancer has significantly spread, surgery is generally not an option. Many times, a doctor will still recommend radiation therapy in order to lessen and control the complications while also reducing the discomfort and pain associated with the disease.

There is no difference in the way doctors treated lung cancer in men and females traditionally. Moreover, the research has explored the genetic and hormonal aspects of lung cancer which has paved the way for new therapies that could be more effective for females than males. Furthermore, medications that target receptors or specific proteins are seemingly more effective at treating lung cancer in women that do not smoke.

The Outlook

Although the signs and symptoms are similar in men and women, the rates of cancer and cancer-related death are different amongst the two. In the end, more research is still needed in order to reduce or lessen the risk of lung cancer. Unfortunately, lung cancer has a very poor prognosis.

The American Cancer Society or ACS uses a 5-year survival rate when estimating one’s life expectancy after they have been diagnosed. This figure basically says ‘the likelihood that a person with a certain type and stage of cancer will live for at least 5 years after the diagnosis.’ For individuals that have non-small cell lung cancer, the overall 5-year survival rate is 23% while those with small cell lung cancer have an overall survival rate of 6%.

By maintaining a healthy lifestyle and making efforts to avoid exposure to smoke and other harmful elements can help people lessen their risk of developing lung cancer in the first place.