Risk Factors of Primary Lung Cancer Among Females

Abstract

BACKGROUNDLung cancer is fast emerging to be a leading cause of cancer mortality, both in developing and developed countries alike. Despite the fact that tobacco smoke is a predominant cause, its increasing incidences among women, especially from non-smoking population puts forth a huge challenge for health care providers.It is therefore essential to evaluate the risk factors and this study was done among female patients who were diagnosed with primary lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODSThis cross-sectional study was carried out for a period of 15 months among the female outpatients who were suspected of lung cancer and confirmed as any one of the types of primary lung cancers by histopathological diagnosis. The history and clinical features of the patients were recorded and data regarding certain exposures were documented. RESULTSThe mean age of the study participants was 49 years. Breathlessness was present in 51.6% of the participants, while cough and chest pain were present in 13 patients (41.9%) each. Exposure to ETS (Environmental Tobacco Smoke) was present in 14 patients (45.2%). Genetic predisposition for malignancy was present in 5 patients (16.1%) in this study. CONCLUSIONOccupational pollutants and Radiation have an additive effect in the background of genetic predisposition in the causation of Lung Cancer in females. Therefore, smoking tobacco is no longer considered as a single most important risk factor, considering the magnitude of the disease among females in a non-smoking population.