Summary
Lung cancer rates are increasing among Asian American women, according to a new study published in the journal Cancer.
A California study reveals a decline in lung cancer rates across various groups, except for nonsmoking Asian American women, where rates are increasing by 2% annually.
The data: In the study published in the Chest Journal, researchers found lung cancer incidence rates among Asian American females who have never used tobacco are approximately twice as high compared to their counterparts. Despite the association of lung cancer with smokers, up to 20% of U.S. cases reportedly occur in nonsmokers each year. Among Asian American women with lung cancer, over 50% are nonsmokers, rising to 80 to 90% for Chinese and Indian American women.
Further research: The perplexing trend has prompted extensive research, with ongoing studies at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and New York University (NYU), aiming to understand the heightened risk in Asian American women and improve early detection methods. Concerned doctors and researchers are now advocating for revised screening guidelines to better address the increasing incidence of lung cancer in this community.
