Lung cancer – still the deadliest

ROCHESTER, Minn. – What type of cancer do women fear the most? Most women would likely say breast cancer. Yet, lung cancer will kill more than 68,000 American women this year. That's more than breast cancer and all gynecologic cancers combined, according to aa recent issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource .

Although death rates from smoking have decreased overall in recent years, lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer deaths in women - and in men. Smoking accounts for nearly 90 percent of all cases of lung cancer. For nonsmokers, daily exposure to secondhand smoke may increase chances of lung cancer by as much as 30 percent.

Research shows that annual chest X-days don't reduce cancer deaths among smokers. A recent study by Mayo researchers found that a special type of imaging test - the spiral computerized tomography (CT) scan - might detect lung cancer at a much earlier stage in high-risk individuals. But the test also found noncancerous nodules, which could be mistaken for cancer.

The American Cancer Society doesn't recommend advanced screening for lung cancer. The best way to prevent it is not to smoke and to avoid secondhand smoke. If you already smoke, quitting now can reduce your risk, even if you have smoked for years.