Lung Cancer in Women

How Common Is Lung Cancer in Women?

Lung cancer is the second most-common cancer that affects women in the U.S. Factors like smoking, exposure to asbestos, family history, and more all impact lung cancer rates in women.

While lung cancer cases are slowly dropping as fewer people smoke, this illness still affects over 115,000 women each year. In fact, the American Cancer Society (ACS) projects that more women than men will be diagnosed with lung cancer in 2025.

Quick Facts About Lung Cancer in Women

• About 1 in 17 women will develop lung cancer, according to the Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF).
• Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer that affects women.
• More than 600,000 women die from lung cancer globally each year.
• Rates of lung cancer are decreasing at a slower pace among women than men.
• The incidence of lung cancer in women under age 65 is higher compared to men of the same age.
• Women are at a higher risk of lung cancer from smoking compared to men.
• Women have lower lung cancer mortality (death) rates than men.

If you or a woman you love has developed lung cancer, we can help you understand your treatment options and how to afford medical care.

Get a Free Lung Cancer Guide now to explore next steps to take after a lung cancer diagnosis.

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• Find top treatments
• Pursue compensation

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Lung Cancer Symptoms in Women

The symptoms of lung cancer are the same regardless of sex. Women and men typically start to experience symptoms only after the cancer has spread through the body.

Other symptoms of lung cancer in women include:

• Changes in voice
• Coughing up rust-colored phlegm or blood
• Fatigue
• Hoarseness
• Loss of appetite
• Recurring infections
• Unexplained weight loss
• Wheezing

If you or someone you love is experiencing these symptoms, make sure to see a doctor and discuss your concerns about lung cancer — even if you quit smoking or never smoked.

“I had a bad cough that didn’t go away for a long time. My primary care doctor checked my lungs but she couldn’t find anything. Then she ordered an X-ray, and then I found out I had a large tumor in my lung.”

— Yoshiko, a nonsmoking lung cancer patient

Causes of Lung Cancer in Women

The most common cause of lung cancer among both women and men is smoking. Cigarette smoke damages healthy lung cells and tissues, which can potentially cause cancer to develop later in life.

Up to 90% of all lung cancer cases in women are caused by smoking, as noted in a 2024 report from the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Women who smoked are more likely to develop lung cancer than men who smoked at the same rates, according to a 2024 Clinical Lung Cancer study. The study notes that genetic factors could be to blame.

Causes of Lung Cancer in Women Who Never Smoked

Many other toxins can cause women to develop lung cancer even if they never smoked. In fact, over 50% of women with lung cancer are nonsmokers, meaning other risk factors are to blame.

Other causes of lung cancer besides smoking in women include:

• Asbestos: Breathing in this fiber-like mineral can cause lung cancer 10-50 years later. Women are at risk of asbestos exposure from talcum powder, makeup products, and other household materials. They also could have been exposed secondhand if loved ones worked with or around asbestos.
• Hormones: Researchers continue to study how estrogen levels may impact carcinogenesis (development of cancer) among women.
• Exposure to secondhand smoke: Women account for 64% of lung cancer deaths caused by secondhand smoke.
• Family history: Women with loved ones who developed lung cancer could be at a greater risk of getting sick.
• Race: 57% of Asian women are nonsmokers, according to a recent study. Researchers have found that Asian women have genetic backgrounds that increase their risk of lung cancer.
• Other pollutants: Toxic fumes released by burning fuel, wood, or coal can all lead to an increased risk of lung cancer in women. Air pollution and radon are also known carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) that can lead to lung cancer.

Women and Lung Cancer Diagnosis

Health care providers at top cancer centers typically use a series of tests to confirm a lung cancer diagnosis in both women and men. This includes imaging scans to look for tumors in the body and then a biopsy, which tests a tissue sample for lung cancer cells.

Key statistics related to lung cancer diagnoses in women include:

• Nearly 116,000 women will be diagnosed with lung cancer in 2025, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
• Nonsmoking women are more frequently diagnosed with lung cancer than men who don’t smoke.
  Roughly 5% of all women will be diagnosed with lung cancer over the course of their lives, according to the LCRF.
• The rate of lung cancer diagnoses is decreasing more slowly in women than in men. Between 2012 and 2021, the rate decreased by 3% each year among men but only 1.4% yearly among women.

“You can always ask your provider, if you have a significant risk factor like a family history of lung cancer, whether they would consider ordering a screening CT scan for you.”

— Dr. Johannes Kratz, lung cancer specialist

While a lung cancer diagnosis can be very scary for anyone diagnosed, treatments can help ease symptoms and potentially improve survival.

Common Types of Lung Cancer in Women

Women can be diagnosed with any type of lung cancer if they smoked or were exposed to pollutants like asbestos.

The most common types of lung cancer in women include:

• Lung adenocarcinoma is the most common lung cancer in women, according to the Lung Cancer Foundation of America. It’s a subtype of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that starts in the cells lining mucus-producing glands and the alveoli (small air sacs) of the lungs.
• Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is strongly linked to smoking and spreads rapidly. Cases of SCLC are on the rise in women, according to a 2024 report from Cancer Therapy Advisor.
• Squamous cell carcinoma is another subtype of NSCLC. It develops in the central part of the lung or the main airway, such as the right or left bronchus. Between 25% and 30% of all lung cancer cases fall under this type.

All of these lung cancer types cause similar symptoms, including chest pain, wheezing, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Doctors can use a biopsy to help distinguish between the different types of lung cancer.

Treatment for Women With Lung Cancer

Doctors can use a variety of treatment options to treat both men and women with lung cancer.

Here are lung cancer treatment options that could help women live longer:

• Chemotherapy uses anti-cancer drugs to shrink tumors.
• Immunotherapy boosts the immune system to fight lung cancer.
• Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to kill lung cancer cells.
• Surgery removes all visible cancer tumors and parts of the lung that they have grown into.
• Targeted therapy treats cancer cells without harming healthy parts of the body.
• Clinical trials safely test new lung cancer treatments to hopefully improve patient survival times.

Lung cancer doctors usually combine several treatment types to destroy as much of the cancer as possible. For example, they can use surgery to remove lung tumors followed by chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiation to kill leftover cells.

“I’m just so grateful that my diagnosis was early because then I had options. I could have surgery, I could have chemotherapy, I could be a part of a clinical trial.”

— Denise, lung cancer survivor

Women and men will have more treatment options available if their lung cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, before it has time to spread through the body. For this reason, getting screened for lung cancer if you’re at risk but don’t have symptoms is essential.

Women and Lung Cancer Prognosis

The prognosis or expected health outcome for lung cancer in women depends on several factors. These include the patient’s overall health and the stage and type of lung cancer. Generally, women with lung cancer tend to live longer than men.

Here are key facts about lung cancer prognosis among women:

• Nonsmoking women with lung cancer have a better prognosis than men who didn’t smoke.
• The 5-year survival rate of women with lung cancer is 22%, according to a 2024 Clinical Lung Cancer report.
• Women account for nearly 50% of all lung cancer deaths in the United States.

Your medical provider can tell you more about your individual lung cancer prognosis and which treatments could help.

Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide now for help finding treatments that could improve your prognosis and ways to afford them.

Get Our Free Lung Cancer Guide

• Understand risk factors
• Find top treatments
• Pursue compensation

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Women Who Have Survived Lung Cancer

While having lung cancer can be shocking and concerning, it’s important to remember that many women have survived or lived longer than expected.

Some female lung cancer survivors have lived for 20 years or more, proving that a diagnosis isn’t a death sentence.

Notable women who have survived lung cancer include:

• Anita: Diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, doctors originally said they couldn’t help Anita. She tried chemotherapy and radiation, but her cancer responded particularly well to immunotherapy. Anita lived for 7 years, showing that survival is achievable even for late-stage patients.
• Denise: Though Denise didn’t have symptoms, she decided to get a lung cancer screening since she had a long history of tobacco smoking. The screening caught her cancer early, and thanks to multiple treatments, she became cancer-free. She has lived for over 5 years since her diagnosis and is still going strong today.
• Tonie: Diagnosed with SCLC in her mid-30s, Toni endured numerous treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation. The treatments were a success and Tonie has lived for over 30 years since her diagnosis.

“Although I would never wish to have cancer, coming so close to dying gave me the will to live my best life.”

— Tonie, lung cancer survivor

Women and Lung Cancer Prevention

There’s no way to fully prevent lung cancer in women or men. However, there are steps to take that can lower the risks.

Here are some prevention methods that lessen the chances of lung cancer:

• Learn about risk factors: Learn about the risk factors for lung cancer in women. This includes family history of lung cancer, asbestos exposure, and genetic mutations.
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle: A healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise and a good diet, can lessen the risk of lung cancer by promoting lung function and a strong immune system.
• Quit smoking: One of the best ways to lower your risk of lung cancer is to quit smoking. Encourage loved ones and family members to quit as well to lessen the dangers of secondhand smoke.

Finally, getting lung cancer screenings is one of the most important ways to catch this disease at an early stage when it’s easier to treat. This can prove lifesaving for women and men.

Find Help for Women Facing a Lung Cancer Diagnosis

Rates of lung cancer in women remain high today — and even nonsmokers are at risk. With over 115,000 new diagnoses of lung cancer among women in the U.S. each year, more and more people will continue to be affected.

Lung Cancer Group may be able to help women and men with lung cancer navigate life after a diagnosis.

Our team can assist with:

• Exploring top lung cancer care options
• Getting the support you and your family need following a diagnosis
• Seeking financial compensation to cover medical bills

We’ve assisted many other lung cancer patients in the past and will work on your family’s behalf, too.

Get a Free Lung Cancer Guide now or call (877) 446-5767 to get started.