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Lung cancer differences
between women and men abound
Newswise — The death of longtime
ABC News anchor Peter Jennings and the acknowledgement of actress
Dana Reeve, widow of “Superman” Christopher Reeve, that she has lung
cancer presents an opportunity to remind both women and men that
lung cancer is the number one cancer killer of both women and men.
It is also important to note the differences between women and men
in lung cancer, according to the Society for Women’s Health
Research.
“The tragic death of Peter
Jennings and the news that Dana Reeve is battling lung cancer should
be a sobering reminder to everyone that lung cancer kills more women
and men than any other single cancer,” Sherry Marts, vice president
of scientific affairs for the Society for Women’s Health Research,
said. “Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, but as in
Reeve’s case smoking is not always the culprit.
“Nonsmoking women are more likely
than nonsmoking men to develop lung cancer. Environmental factors
other than smoke play a role in the development of lung cancer in
nonsmoking women. The small amount of research available suggests
that, when exposed to an environmental carcinogen, nonsmoking women
are more susceptible to DNA damage than nonsmoking men. We clearly
need more research into these differences so that we can reduce the
cancer rate and some day find a cure.”
The Society for Women’s Health
Research is the nation’s only non-profit organization whose mission
is to improve the health of all women through research, education
and advocacy. Based in Washington, D.C., the Society encourages the
study of biological sex differences between women and men that
affect the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease.
The Society is at the forefront of
encouraging expanded research on lung cancer, which develops
differently in women and men. Current research is insufficient to
understand the extent and nature of those differences or apply them
to improved care for all patients.
A 2003 Society sponsored
national meeting identified important sex differences in the
genetics and basic biology of lung cancer; described sex differences
in response to environmental and chemical toxins that can lead to
lung cancer; and distinguished sex differences in smoking-related
behaviors and the implication of those differences for prevention
and treatment of lung cancer. A report on the meeting, “Sex
Differences in Lung Cancer: From Genes to Behavior,” is available on
the Society’s Web site:
http://www.womenshealthresearch.org/events/sam_houston.htm
The Society’s Web site also
features extensive information on health differences between women
and men in lung cancer and smoking:
Lung Cancer
http://www.womenshealthresearch.org/hs/facts_cancer.htm
Smoking
http://www.womenshealthresearch.org/hs/facts_dat.htm
A June 2005 public opinion
survey commissioned by the Society showed that breast cancer is the
disease that women most fear, despite the fact that lung cancer
kills more women. More information on the survey is available at:
http://www.womenshealthresearch.org/press/releases/070705.htm
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