Lung cancer on the rise among women in France

Women under 50 are increasingly affected by lung cancer, according to the KBP-2020 study, conducted by the College of Pulmonologists of General Hospitals. The proportions of cannabis smokers and non-smokers are also increasing.

For its third edition, after those of 2000 and 2020, the KPB-2020 study takes stock of the evolution of survival from bronchopulmonary cancer. Based on a sample of 9,000 cases, the equivalent of 20% of new cases over a year, the results (to be published) were presented during the 26^th French-Language Pulmonology Congress, held in Lille from January 21 to 23, 2022[1].

A rapid increase in these cancers in women

Leading cause of cancer death worldwide[2], lung cancer is progressing very rapidly among women in France, affecting 34% women in 2020 compared to 16% in 2000. 41% of these cancers occur in women under 50. The high proportion of smokers among French women, one of the highest in European countries and decreasing less quickly than in our neighboring countries[3], would mainly explain these alarming trends.

A "plateau" effect, however, would be observable among men, who have proportionally stopped smoking more and whose number of diagnoses would stabilize. While lung cancer rates are declining among young people, screenings are significantly lower in this age group and remain too late at all ages. Regular cannabis use, i.e., co-use ten times a month or more, is now found in a third of patients whose cancer was diagnosed before the age of 50.

Air quality, a risk factor for non-smokers

Although attributable to smoking in around 85% of cases, lung cancer is nevertheless steadily increasing among non-smokers, reaching nearly 13% in 2020 compared to 7% in 2000. While exposure to fine particles such as chromium, asbestos, radon or arsenic appears to be a significant risk factor in people who have never smoked, the consequences of passive smoking are not specified.

Five-year survival rates remain low for lung cancer, but according to a meta-analysis published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, overall survival from lung cancer remains slightly improved in case of rapid cessation of smoking after the diagnosis of cancer, whether small cell or non-small cell[4].

Keywords: lung cancer, women, cannabis, air quality, withdrawal

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