Female lung cancer rates have undeniably skyrocketed such that lung cancer is now considered the number one killer of women in rich countries, especially in the United States. Below are the top 5 facts you need to know about this seasons illness.
1. Before being declared as the top cancer type that kills females, lung cancer was considered the top cancer that killed numerous men for many years now. It is known as the leading cancer killer of men in developing countries, according to Zee News.
2. In 2012, around 14.1 million new cancer cases were documented and about 8.2 million deaths due to this type of cancer were recorded. It is also the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer, with a total of 13 percent in all cancer diagnoses, reports WebMD.
Experts believe the main reason why this is true internationally is because people are developing bad Western habits. "We have known that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States for a long time," Dr. Norman Edelman of the American Lung Association said. "As people emerge from poverty, people start adopting bad Western habits like smoking, so cancer rates are going up, especially lung cancer rates in men."
3. Lung cancer isn't always caused by smoking, according to American Cancer Society epidemiologist Lindsey Torre, U.S. News Health reports. "But it takes about two to three decades to see lung cancer deaths due to smoking, because lung cancer does take a long time to develop," she quipped.
4. Death resulting from lung cancer continues to rise while breast cancer cases continue to dwindle in developed countries. Torre said, "In many developed countries breast cancer death rates have been stable or decreasing for the past couple of decades, which is due to early detection and improved treatments."
5. There are many ways to avoid developing lung cancer. According to MayoClinic, some of the most effective ways involve smoking. One can increase the chances of not getting the illness by either quitting smoking and avoiding second-chain smoke. a diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables and exercising regularly also the most trusted ways of maintaining healthy lungs.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
