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Recognizing the Symptoms of Lung Cancer in Women

Lung cancer is well-known as a smoker’s disease which is directly related to men. Lung cancer cases have set alarming issues these days. As per research, it has been confirmed that women are more likely to get lung cancer as compared to men. Yes, It's true! Lung cancer in women is very common between the age of 30-60 years as compared to men. Well, women do not need to worry about it because the survival rates of lung cancer are improving too. However, it is important to detect lung cancer symptoms at an early stage for better recovery and a higher survival rate.

Juggling between personal and professional life, many women tend to ignore health issues. In this context, GS Cancer Hospital, Ghaziabad aims to spread awareness about recognizing the symptoms of lung cancer in women at an early stage. GS Hospital is the best lung cancer hospital in Ghaziabad known for its expertise in cancer therapy and prevention at its best. The hospital is equipped with quality cancer healthcare treatment and services under the guidance of the best oncologists in Meerut.

In this blog, we shall unleash how to recognize symptoms of lung cancer in women at an early stage under the expertise of GS Hospital, the best lung cancer hospital in UP. Let’s begin!

Incidence and statistics of lung cancer cases in men and women:

Lung cancer is known as the second most common type of cancer in males and females. Over the years, it has been noted that the incidence of lung cancer rate has reduced in men while there has been a sudden spike in the incidence of lung cancer cases in women which is quite alarming.

Globally, women must be educated about the same to take preventive measures for lung cancer. GS Cancer Hospital Ghaziabad has started its mission to global awareness about lung cancer in women this year 2024 to put an end to the alarming rates of increasing incidence of lung cancer cases in women. This is a shout-out call to all ladies out there to join hands in the mission with GS Hospital, India to spread awareness about lung cancer in women.

The first step towards this awareness is to recognize the symptoms of lung cancer at an early stage. Let us check out the symptoms of lung cancer in women in the next part of the article.

Signs and Symptoms of lung cancer in women:

The signs and symptoms of lung cancer in women may differ at times. It may be alarming in some advanced cases. However, in the early stages, the symptoms may be not visible with minor discomfort. As lung cancer progresses, the symptoms may worsen affecting daily activities. Some of the common signs and symptoms of lung cancer in women are as follows:

• Fatigue and tiredness in the initial stages
• Changes in weight with sudden onset of weight loss
• Loss of appetite with no desire to eat
• Episodes of fever
• A persistent cough that does not go away
• Shortness of breath at rest or exertional dyspnea
• Wheezing
• Hoarseness of voice with changes in voice
• Recurrent chest pain and chest congestion
• Frequent occurrence of lung infection

These are the 10 most common symptoms of lung cancer in women. The symptoms of lung cancer in women may tend to differ at times due to the specific stages at which lung cancer is diagnosed. The severity of the lung cancer symptoms will depend on the stage of lung cancer. Hence, it is important to get diagnosed at an early stage of cancer through regular medical check-ups and screening. It has been noted that cancer does not cause any symptoms at an early stage.

The difference in lung cancer cases in men and women:

The causes and symptoms of lung cancer in men and women would always differ. Lung cancer may affect different parts of the lung leading to different symptoms in men and women. The major types of lung cancer in women are as follows:

• Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)- This is the most common type of cancer affecting 80-90% of cases of lung cancer in both men and women.
• Lung adenocarcinoma is the most common form of lung cancer seen commonly in women who have non-smoking status. These lung cancers have higher chances of metastasis with complications affecting different organs such as bones or stomach.
• Squamous cell carcinoma is another common form of lung cancer that is seen in women who are prone to smoking due to blockage of airways.
• Large cell carcinoma can grow anywhere in the lungs and tends to spread quickly.
• Small cell lung cancer (SCLC)- This is the type of lung cancer affecting 10-20% of cases of lung cancer which is mostly commonly seen in smoking individuals.
• Carcinoid tumors constitute about 1-2% of cases of lung cancers which tend to occur in younger women.

Risk factors of lung cancer:

The risk factors of lung cancer are as follows:

• Genetic - Family history of lung cancer
• Aging leads to low immunity
• Recurrent lung infections
• Exposure to occupational and environmental carcinogens
• Addictions like smoking and alcohol
• Hormonal causes in women due to estrogen-specific hormone which may trigger cancer growth
• Females are more prone to genetic mutations for cancer

As per research, it has been noted that women who have never smoked are diagnosed at the advanced stages of cancer with metastasis which can give rise to many complications. Moreover, women with comorbidities such as asthma or COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) have higher chances of lung cancer.

Prognosis of lung cancer in women:

The prognosis of lung cancer would depend upon the diagnosis of lung cancer. It involves the following factors:

• Stage of lung cancer
• Metastasis of lung cancer
• Severity of symptoms of lung cancer

With regular screenings and timely treatment, if you are in remission or have no evidence of disease (NED) for more than 5 years, you will be termed as a cured case for lung cancer by your doctor. However, it is always important to maintain preventive measures and regular check-ups for better respiratory health.

Prevention of lung cancer in women:

The preventive measures for lung cancer are focused on reducing the risk of lung cancer. These include:

• Avoid smoking and plan to quit. It may take around 5 years for the pulmonary function to recover from lung damage thus reducing the risk of lung cancer.
• Stay away from second-hand smoke or passive smoking
• Eat a healthy diet with good hydration to reduce the risk of lung cancer
• Talk to your doctor for regular lung cancer screening tests
• Focus on self-cancer by keeping track of your follow-up and treatment