Facts About Smoking Lung Cancer Statistics and Gender Facts
Smoking and lung cancer have been linked for over 80 years.
Long term lung cancer statistics show a rise in the number of cases among women. The smoking facts
show that the harmful effects of smoking show no gender preferences. As the number of female
smokers in a population rises, within about 20 years the incidence of smoking related diseases soon follows.
The smoking facts are clear. It is not gender that determines lung cancer prevalence in a
population, it is smoking behaviour.
Smoking prevalence in all societies has always been significantly lower among women, and
lung cancer statistics have always mirrored this trend.
The Relationship Between Smoking and Lung Cancer Statistics
Historically lung cancer has been more prevalent among men. The difference in lung cancer rates
for men and women were the result of the differences in the trends of smoking behaviour for each gender.
As a social trend, smoking was initially considered to be a male activity and in some countries this is still the case.
However with the mass production of cigarettes and the skill
of the marketers in creating smoking advertisements directed towards women, more and more
women began joining their fathers, brothers, and husbands in the ranks of the nicotine addicted.
The smoking facts about women and lung cancer show that as more and more women begin smoking lung cancer rates increase.
As a cancer killer in men, bronchogenic carcinoma has always topped the list. However, this has not been
the case for women. In developed countries breast cancer has always been the biggest cancer killer in
women and lung cancer has been much farther down the list as a cause of cancer death.
With the women's movement and liberation however, these lung cancer statistics are now changing.
In countries that had a change in smoking behaviour in the 1970's and 80's that led to an
increased number of women smoking, lung cancer is becoming a leading cause of cancer death.
The world over the trend is the same. When there is an increase in the number of people who start
smoking, lung cancer rates increase within about twenty years.
The purpose of the information provided here is to help you cooperate with your doctor and other
health practitioners. It is not intended to take the place of medical advice and you are encouraged to
discuss health concerns with your physician or a professional health care provider who is
familiar with you and your unique personal health context.
