How much do you know about Lung Cancer?

by Heather McLaughlin

We’ve all heard of lung cancer, but what do we actually know about it?

A study conducted by the U.S. National Lung Cancer Partnership found that basic knowledge about Lung Cancer is lacking among Americans, especially women.

Here are a few facts about lung cancer that you may not have known:

• Only 41 percent of women know that lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in the United States.
• Only 8 percent of women understand that exposure to radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Instead, 60 percent of women share the mistaken belief that exposure to secondhand smoke is the number two cause.
• Only 36 percent of women are aware that lung cancer kills more women than breast cancer.
• Only 29 percent know that lung cancer kills more women than breast, ovarian and uterine cancers combined.
• Only 41 percent of women know that one in every 17 women will develop a lung malignancy in her lifetime.
• Only 18 percent of women know that women make up the majority of young (under age 40) lung cancer patients.
• Only 4 percent of women know that women typically do better than men following lung cancer treatment.

At this time, there’s no way to do early screening for lung cancer, like breast or other types of cancer, so treatment can only begin after a diagnosis.

Resource: Women’s Health Gov