Lung cancer rates in young women and girls are rising, new data reveals, and doctors aren’t sure what’s behind this mysterious explosion.
Figures from Cancer Research UK (CRUK) show that cases of the disease have increased by 130 per cent in women under the age of 24 in recent decades.
This makes them the fastest growing group at risk of contracting the disease in both sexes, although those over 70 remain the most likely to be diagnosed.
By contrast, rates among men of the same age have changed during this time, for reasons that doctors say are simply unknown.
Cancer experts have now warned against treating lung cancer as “a disease of old people”, as previously thought.
Young women were also urged not to ignore persistent coughs, the main symptom of the disease, at this time of year when colds are rife.
Experts told MailOnline that one reason for alarm is that many of these cases occur among women who have never smoked.
This means it is almost impossible for doctors to provide any advice on how younger women can minimize their risk.
Lung cancer rates in young women and girls are rising, new data reveals, and doctors aren’t sure what’s behind this mysterious explosion.
Professor Karol Sikora, a world-renowned oncologist with more than 40 years’ experience, said the unexplained rise was “worrying and worrying” as doctors had “no idea” what was causing the rise.
He added that it was part of the general increase in cancer incidence in young people, although not as dramatic as that seen in colon cancer, which he suspected was due to some complex interaction with as yet undetermined environmental factors.
“The only thing you can think about is changes in diet, changes in exercise habits and changes in work patterns,” he said.
But citing American research, in which American doctors also noted a similar increase, he said the most obvious cause, smoking, was probably not a factor.
“Smoking is discounted because the largest increases have been observed among non-smoking women,” he said.
Official data also suggests that smoking rates among young women are falling.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics suggest that 8 per cent of women aged 18 to 24 smoke, up from almost one in four about a decade ago.
Some experts have suggested that a rise in vaping could be the cause, citing a rise in device use among young women, with nearly one in 10 now saying they use the devices.
Cancer experts have now warned against treating lung cancer as “a disease of old people”, as previously thought. Young women were also urged not to ignore persistent coughs, the main symptom of the disease, at this time of year when colds are rife.
Professor Sikora said it was an intriguing theory, but just one of many experts are exploring.
He added that this uncertainty made it impossible to give reliable advice on how people can minimize their risk.
“The problem is that you can’t give public health advice and you can’t identify which people might be most at risk,” he said.
One potential cause, repeatedly touted online, is that Covid hits have not been proven to be in any way behind an increase in cancer incidence.
Experts have repeatedly highlighted that data showing increases in cancer cases like that seen in lung cancer only go back to 2018, years before vaccines were invented.
Professor Sikora added that it was vital to remember that lung cancer, despite a 129 per cent increase, remained generally rare among young women, with only a “handful of cases” per year.
However, she said this does not mean people should not ignore potential symptoms and urged young women not to dismiss a persistent cough at this time of year as a routine winter cough.
“If you have what you think is the flu and it hasn’t gone away in two weeks, go see a GP,” he said.
Lung cancer kills around 35,000 Britons every year, around four every hour. However, rates of the disease have decreased about 9 percent since the 1990s across the population.
Lung cancer kills around 35,000 Britons every year, around four every hour.
However, rates of the disease have decreased about 9 percent since the 1990s across the population.
Symptoms of lung cancer include a persistent cough that does not go away after three weeks, repeated respiratory infections, coughing up blood, pain when breathing, persistent shortness of breath and fatigue, and unexpected weight loss.
Other more unusual signs of lung cancer include changes in the appearance of the fingers, difficulty or pain swallowing, wheezing, voice changes, and swelling of the face or neck.
Anyone with any of these signs should see their GP.
CRUK data suggests that overall, one in 13 British women and one in 14 men will develop lung cancer in their lifetime.
The vast majority of cases of the disease, about four in five, are believed to be preventable.
Approximately 72 per cent of all cases of lung disease in the UK are thought to be caused by smoking.
Another 8 percent is thought to be due to long-term exposure to air pollution, such as that caused by vehicle emissions.