Survival rates for lung cancer As a whole , survival rates have improved for cancer patients . For lung cancer specifically — especially for those with advanced stage 4 cancers — the novel effective treatment options have significantly improved the survival outlook .
Chemotherapy , for instance , used to improve survival by months in the past , but we ’ re now beginning to discuss survival benefits in terms of years with patients . Generally , women with lung cancer appear to do better than men , partly because those who have specific mutations have targeted therapy as an additional treatment option .
Other reasons may be attributed to the accompanying heart and lung problems that male smokers may have . These conditions may add additional burdens to their overall health and may result in them not being able to tolerate treatment as well as their female counterparts . At this point , the reported 5-year survival rate following the diagnosis of lung cancer in a woman is 26.5 percent , compared to 14.4 percent in a man .
Management of lung cancer There are no real gender-specific differences when it comes to the management of lung cancers . Rather , the treatment is dependent on each patient ’ s reserves , general health condition , and the molecular make-up of their cancers .
Based on this information , the managing doctor can decide on the most appropriate first-line and subsequent treatment options .
Typically , most patients — male and female — are worried about cancer progression and the side effects from treatment . Women are not more prone to side effects but may potentially be more concerned about the social and emotional impacts of certain side effects such as hair loss , which can happen with chemotherapy .
Chemotherapy
Survival rates have improved for cancer patients
Such side effects are usually transient and reversible . Hair , for instance , usually grows back after chemotherapy is stopped . Certain types of treatment , such as targeted and immunotherapy , may also result in a rash , although these can generally be effectively managed with creams such as emollients . In younger women , the issue of fertility and pregnancy occasionally comes up . Thankfully , lung cancer is not often diagnosed in child-bearing age women .
Taking steps towards prevention Fortunately , like many diseases and health conditions , taking steps towards prevention can help greatly in lowering your risk of potential disease .
It ’ s highly recommended to not take up smoking if one is a non-smoker and to stop smoking if one is a smoker . I always advise that it ’ s never too late to stop smoking . The longer one has stopped smoking , the lower the risk of developing lung cancer . In addition , it ’ s crucial to avoid second-hand smoke as much as possible , as any form of long-term exposure may be detrimental to overall health .
While there ’ s no sure way to prevent cancer , eating healthy foods and leading a more active rather than sedentary lifestyle can go a long way in risk reduction — whether you ’ re a man or woman . n
Dr Chin Tan Min is a senior consultant in medical oncology at Parkway Cancer Centre in Singapore .
It ’ s highly recommended to not take up smoking if one is a non-smoker and to stop smoking if one is a smoker
GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com OCTOBER 2021
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