|
Female
Smokers at Higher Risk of Lung Cancer
The
Cancer Information Network
Posting Date: February 10, 2004
New
York (The Cancer Information Network) -- Female smokers carry
twice the risk of contracting lung cancer than males who smoke
a similar amount, according to a recent study involving almost
2,500 men and women at least 40 years old who were screened
for lung cancer.
The
results of the study were published in the January issue of
the journal Lung Cancer.
Previous
research studies had already suggested the possibility that
women who smoke are more susceptible to lung cancer than their
male counterparts. Should
further research confirm the findings of this latest study,
greater effort would have to be given to discouraging girls
and young women from smoking.
The
study involved 1,288 men and 1,202 women who smoked either a
pack a day for 10 years or two packs a day for five years.
These participants all underwent computed tomography
(CT) scans to detect any presence of lung cancer.
In
follow-up testing, 45 women were confirmed to have lung
cancer, compared to 20 men.
Differences
in the aggressiveness of lung tumors between sexes or possible
underreporting of the smoking levels of women do not account
for the difference, researchers said.
Age and smoking history were also factored into the
analysis.
The
researchers offered no clear reason for the higher risk of
lung cancer among women, but considered the possibility that
women are less capable of metabolizing or “clearing” the
smoke than men are.
|
