Now You Know: Lung Cancer, Not Breast Cancer, Is the Leading Cause of Cancer Deaths Among U.S. Women

June 17, 2014- Radon — the dangerous, naturally occurring, invisible and odorless gas derived as the uranium in soil decays over time — is again in the news, as a named key factor in lung cancer deaths among women.

As a follow-up to our blog post on the danger of radon exposure, we spotted a Voxxi.com post about a recent survey of women that asked them to pick the top cancer killer among women. Of those polled, 51 percent selected breast cancer as their answer. Only 22 percent selected lung cancer, the correct choice.

Breast cancer may be the cancer that affects more women in the U.S., but according to the American Lung Association (ALA), it is not the leading cause of cancer deaths among women.

The Voxxi post, "This Cancer Kills More Woman Than Breast Cancer. Do You Know What It Is?" summarizes a new report from the ALA which indicates that the majority of women polled had no idea of lung cancer's prevalence.

Here are the highlights of the Voxxi.com post:

• Deaths from lung cancer are approximately 38 out of every 100,000 women annually, whereas breast cancer claims the lives of 22 out of 100,000 women annually.

• Experts believe the error in the assumptions is because lung cancer is considered a smokers disease. In point of fact, the ALA states non-smoking women are at as much risk for lung cancer as smokers are.

• It is true that the leading cause of lung cancer is smoking, including secondhand smoke. But what most people don't know is that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., responsible for more than 20,000 cases annually.

• It is estimated that 1 in 15 homes has detectable radon levels, exposing radon each and every day into the air we breathe. For most individuals exposure to radon in small amounts is minimal with little impact, but for people exposed to elevated levels, the risk for lung cancer is significant.

• The Voxxi.com post reprints the following radon traits, as provided by the National Cancer Institute:

- Radon is an invisible, odorless, tasteless radioactive gas released from the normal decay of the elements uranium, thorium, and radium in rocks and soil.

- Radon seeps up through the ground and diffuses into the air, although in a few areas, depending on local geology, radon dissolves into ground water and can be released into the air when the water is used.

- Radon gas usually exists at very low levels outdoors; however, in areas without adequate ventilation, such as underground mines, radon can accumulate to levels that substantially increase the risk of lung cancer.

- Basements and first floor living areas tend to have the highest levels of radon because they are the closest to the ground.

• Voxxi.com quotes Alana Burns, Vice President of the ALA’s Signature Cause Campaign, as to why radon awareness hasn't yet reached the levels of other issues such as breast cancer. "With breast cancer, there are so many survivors out there telling their stories and advocating,” Burns said, as reported by EmaxHealth. "But more than half of women diagnosed with lung cancer are gone within a year. There is no legion of survivors talking about their experiences."


Read the full Voxxi.com post here.

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