Look Beneath the Breasts - Lung Cancer in Women Should Turn Heads

With pink now dominating the autumn landscape, it's clear that awareness is rising for breast cancer. Via pink ribbons, bracelets, T-shirts, even appliances, we are being reminded how awareness can save lives. But how many people are aware that lurking beneath the breasts lays an even greater threat - an invisible killer?

Lung cancer kills more women than breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer combined. And if you've never smoked, don't look away. 1 in 5 women with lung cancer can claim the same.

Once discriminating against women, lung cancer is now an equal opportunity disease.

What really strikes a discordant note in my heart though, is another statistic.

Have you even been to a symphony, listened to a band, or attended a child's music event, where an instrument was out of tune? And, have you looked around, surprised that everyone around you seemed to be pleased with the music - as if the pitch of that instrument didn't reach their ears? That's how I felt as I reviewed the most recent statistics on cancer in the United States:

• For women, the incidence of breast cancer decreased about 2% per year between 1999 and 2006

• For men, the incidence of lung cancer decreased 1.8% per year from 1991 to 2005

• For women, the incidence of lung cancer increased 0.5% per year from 1991 to 2005

These statistics should have us turning our heads and opening our eyes very wide.

During breast cancer awareness month, don't forget to look beneath the breasts. Loving our mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends, takes more than a pink ribbon and a reminder to schedule a mammogram.

Further Reading:

• Facts About Lung Cancer in Women

Photo: istockphoto.com