Lung Cancer: A Growing Concern for Women
Lung cancer stands as the primary cause of cancer-related deaths among women in the U.S., and an increasing number of new cases are being found in women who have never smoked.
Former YouTube CEO, Susan Wojcicki, is one of those individuals. A non-smoker, she passed away almost two years ago from lung cancer at the age of 56, which was shocking news. I had interviewed her various times, and she even visited my home, where she met my kids. I always admired her — not just as a tech leader, but as a parent and a friend.
In a recent episode of “Healthful,” I sat down with her sister, Anne Wojcicki, to talk about this pressing issue pertaining to women’s health. Joining us was Anne’s friend, Shira Kupperman Boehler, a non-smoker who was diagnosed with stage 1B lung cancer at 44, and Dr. Kim Sandler, the director of the Vanderbilt Lung Screening Program.
Dr. Sandler emphasized, “This is a women’s health crisis, but we don’t discuss it enough.”
We delved into a range of topics, from various risk factors to available and upcoming screening methods. I’ve learned quite a bit from our discussion and hope you’ll take a moment to catch it on YouTube or check it out on your favorite podcast platform.
Lung Cancer’s Death Toll
Lung cancer results in more fatalities annually than breast, pancreatic, and ovarian cancers combined. This disparity is partly due to the late-stage diagnosis many patients face when symptoms finally appear. A 2023 study in The Journal of Radiology indicates that individuals diagnosed in the early stages (I or II) have an 81% survival rate, compared to just 10% for those identified at late stages, according to the American Lung Cancer Association.
Screening: Simple Yet Underutilized
Low-dose CT scans offer a straightforward and quick way to detect lung cancer early, making treatment more manageable. Current guidelines from the American Lung Cancer Association suggest this scan for individuals over 50 with a 20-pack year smoking history, where a pack-year is defined as smoking one pack a day for a year.
However, it’s noteworthy that about 20% of lung cancer cases occur in non-smokers, with women who have never smoked constituting about two-thirds of those cases. Shira expressed her wish for lung cancer screenings to begin at age 40, similar to mammograms. “The problem is, we don’t notice lung issues until it’s too late, too late when the cancer has metastasized to other areas,” she said, highlighting that lung cancer is the leading cancer killer.
Increased Risk for Breast Cancer Survivors
Dr. Sandler shared an important perspective. “We often view cancer as a rare strike of lightning. After surviving one cancer, we think we’re in the clear. Yet, the reality is that having had cancer once increases our risk of encountering another type, with lung cancer being the most common post-breast cancer diagnosis.”
