| Everyone knows the dangers of tobacco smoke, but | | | | Considering how dangerous and how silent this cancer |
| until recently experts believed the danger to be equal | | | | is, these are sobering numbers. |
| for men and women. Now new research is showing | | | | And yet a recent Center for Disease Control (CDC) |
| just how wrong, and perhaps how dangerous, that | | | | survey conducted in 2007 found that 1 in 6 American |
| misconception can be, as the effects of smoking | | | | women over 18 smoked cigarettes. |
| cigarettes is different for women. | | | | The highest rates were among American Indian and |
| It appears that the cancer causing agents in cigarettes | | | | native Alaskan women, followed closely by whites, |
| may be more dangerous to women than men, | | | | African Americans, Hispanics and lastly Asian women. |
| according to a new Swiss study that looked at 683 | | | | Surveys have found that smoking is more popular |
| patients with lung cancer who came into a cancer | | | | among less educated, younger women who almost |
| center from the years 2000 to 2005. | | | | always start as teens. |
| The researchers noticed that female patients tended | | | | If you smoke and you're concerned about lung cancer |
| to be younger when they were diagnosed, which | | | | risk, you should really consider stopping if you want to |
| seemed strange since these women hadn't had the | | | | reduce the risk of many debilitating conditions. |
| time to smoke the same number of cigarettes as the | | | | You can get help quitting from support groups, nicotine |
| male patients in the study. | | | | replacement therapy, hypnosis or the many |
| "Our findings suggest that women may have an | | | | medications now available. |
| increased susceptibility to tobacco carcinogens," | | | | You can use the helpline (800) QUIT NOW. Additional |
| explains Dr. Martin Frueh. | | | | sources of help include smokefree.gov, the American |
| The study was to be presented at the first ever | | | | Cancer Society, the American Lung Association and |
| European Multidisciplinary Conference in Thoracic | | | | the National Cancer Institute. |
| Oncology held in Lugano, Switzerland, and is one of | | | | There are also groups such as the Tobacco |
| several recent case control studies where women | | | | Dependence Program dedicated to doing high quality |
| appear to be more vulnerable to carcinogens in | | | | research on tobacco and dependence and sharing this |
| tobacco smoke than men. | | | | information with all of us. |
| Lung cancer was once a disease almost unheard of in | | | | Once you do quit, you'll notice your lung capacity goes |
| women, but since the 1960s, the rates have been | | | | up and your bronchial tubes relax, which makes |
| climbing steadily. | | | | breathing easier. |
| Today lung cancer has claimed the title of leading | | | | What's more, levels of poisonous carbon monoxide in |
| cause of cancer deaths in U.S. women. | | | | your bloodstream decrease, making room for your |
| The American Cancer Society estimates that over | | | | blood to carry more oxygen. |
| 215,000 new cases of lung cancer were diagnosed in | | | | Of course your sense of smell will get better, and the |
| the U.S. during 2008. | | | | discoloration of your teeth, fingers and clothing will |
| Adding a bit of perspective, National Cancer Institute | | | | begin to fade. |
| estimates suggest that one out of every 14 people in | | | | Best of all, the second hand smoke you were sending |
| the U.S. will be diagnosed with lung cancer sometime in | | | | out into the environment will be eliminated, which is a |
| their lifetime. | | | | healthy gift to everyone around you. |