24 May More Young Women Than Men Now Get Lung Cancer

Posted at 20:14h in Author Interviews, Cancer Research, Gender Differences, Lung Cancer, NEJM, Smoking, Tobacco Research by

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
“Woman smoking” by Pedro Ribeiro Simões is licensed under CC BY 2.0Ahmedin Jemal, DVM, PHD
Scientific Vice President, Surveillance & Health Services Rsch
American Cancer Society, Inc.
Atlanta, GA 30303

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: Historically, lung cancer rates have been higher in men than women at all ages because of the substantially higher cigarette smoking prevalence in men.

However, cigarette smoking prevalences over the past few decades have become similar between young men and women. Consistent with this pattern, we previously reported the convergence of lung cancer rates between young men and young women. In this paper, we examined the lung cancer incidence rates in young women versus young men in the contemporary cohorts.

We found that the historically higher lung cancer incidence rates in young men than in young women have reversed in whites and Hispanics born since the mid-1960s. However, this emerging incidence patterns were not fully explained by sex difference in smoking prevalence as cigarette smoking prevalences among whites and Hispanics were not higher in young women than young men.

MedicalResearch.com: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Response: Quitting smoking is beneficial at all ages, especially before middle age. Smokers who quit smoking at age 30 years gain about 10 years compared to those who continue to smoke, and those who quit at 50 years gain about 5 years. Smokers should recognize that tobacco dependence is a disease and they have to seek recommended treatments, including counseling and nicotine replacement therapy.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: Our findings call for further research to identify reasons for the higher rates of lung cancer in young women than in young men.

No disclosures

MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.

Citation:
Higher Lung Cancer Incidence in Young Women Than Young Men in the United States

Ahmedin Jemal, D.V.M., Ph.D., Kimberly D. Miller, M.P.H., Jiemin Ma, Ph.D., Rebecca L. Siegel, M.P.H., Stacey A. Fedewa, Ph.D., Farhad Islami, M.D., Ph.D., Susan S. Devesa, Ph.D., and Michael J. Thun, M.D.
May 24, 2018
N Engl J Med 2018; 378:1999-2009
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1715907

Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.

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Last Updated on May 24, 2018 by Marie Benz MD FAAD

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