Lung Cancer and Women

Dr. Moritz

Did you know that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among American women? The numbers are alarming:  In 2010, the last year for which statistics are available, 70,578 women died of lung cancer in the United States. Once considered a “man’s disease,” the incidence of new lung cancer cases in women has increased during the past 35 years.

And, equally as important, studies have shown that lung cancer in women differs from lung cancer in men.

What makes lung cancer in women different than men?
Although smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer in women, 20 percent of newly diagnosed women have never smoked. Women also tend to develop lung cancer at a younger age than men, accounting for nearly half of the newly diagnosed lung cancer cases in people under age 50.

Additionally, while squamous cell lung cancer is most common in men, adenocarcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer in women. This means that symptoms in women can be different than men. Adenocarcinoma develops in the outer regions of the lungs and often does not cause the “classic” signs of lung cancer, like a cough or coughing up blood. Instead, women with early-stage lung cancer may experience fatigue, shortness of breath and chest or back pain. A lung tumor may also spread or grow to be quite large before women experience any symptoms.

What is being done to learn more?
Research is being conducted to determine the role that estrogen, a female sex hormone, plays in the incidence and mortality rates of lung cancer. Scientists have identified estrogen receptors, or areas that can bind with estrogen, on the outside of lung cancer cells. Additional research into the role of estrogen in female lung cancer patients may result in additional, more effective lung cancer treatment options for women.

“Staying up-to-date on the latest lung cancer research allows us to provide the most effective, leading-edge treatments for all our patients, particularly women where many of these findings are new. ” said Dr. Troy Moritz, thoracic surgeon at PinnacleHealth.

Do women respond to treatment as well as men?
Studies have also shown that women respond better to certain chemotherapy drugs that are used to treat lung cancer and even fare better after surgery. And the five-year survival rate for women are better than those for men.

“By customizing each patient’s treatment plan, our thoracic oncology team is able to increase survival  rates and improve quality of life for our patients,” said Dr. Moritz.

To learn more, call the PinnacleHealth Cancer Center at (717) 657-7500 or visit cancer.pinnaclehealth.org.

Recipe: Holiday green beans with walnuts, carmelized onions, and gorgonzola

Jessica Hoffman, RD, LDN

Jess’s holiday green beans with walnuts, carmelized onions, and gorgonzola cheese

You will need:
4 lb fresh green string beans
1 cup organic walnut halves
6 oz gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
1 large sweet Vidalia onion, sliced thinly
3 Tbsp heart healthy butter
1 Tbsp packed brown sugar
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 Tbsp olive oil
¾ cup water


Instructions:

1. In small saucepan, heat butter over medium heat.  Stir in brown sugar.  Add sliced onion and reduce heat to low.  Cook slowly, until tender, about 25 minutes. 
2. Pre-heat oven to low broil.  In 9x13 inch metal sheet pan, spread walnuts evenly.  Sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.  Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and toss to coat.  Toast in oven for 2 minutes; remove pan and toss walnuts to flip.  Broil for 1 more minute, until nuts are toasted.  
3. In large stock pot, bring ¾ cup water to a boil.  Clean and remove stem ends from green beans, leaving remaining green bean whole.  Steam green beans until tender-crisp, about 7 minutes. Drain beans. Pour remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over beans and gently toss to coat.  Transfer beans to large serving platter or dish. 
4. Spread onions on top of green beans.  Top with toasted walnuts and crumbled gorgonzola cheese.  Serve immediately.

Download the recipe card

Serves 14
Nutrition Information per serving
Calories 162
Fat 13 grams
Carbohydrate 8 grams
Protein 5 grams

-From Jess’s Kitchen, Jessica Hoffman, RD, LDN

Using Robotics To Treat Lung Cancer

Dr. Moritz

Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, with 1.8 million new cases and 1.6 million deaths in 2012. But there is good news: Treatment options have improved and include advanced, minimally invasive surgical procedures using robotic techniques.

At PinnacleHealth, we take lung cancer surgery to the next level using the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System. Da Vinci robotic technology allows surgeons to minimize discomfort, reduce the risk of complications, reduce hospital stays and speed recovery time for patients.

How does the da Vinci System work?

Through a few small incisions, surgeons use the da Vinci system to control tiny surgical instruments. Da Vinci also allows surgeons to see a Magnified, high-definition 3-D image of lung tissue and features highly maneuverable “wrists” that can rotate 540 degrees. A range of lung cancer surgical treatments can be performed using the da Vinci system, including:

• Wedge resection, during which the surgeon removes a wedge-shaped portion of the lung that includes the tumor and some surrounding tissue
• Sub-lobar resection, during which the surgeon removes the part of the lung that contains the tumor and some surrounding tissue
• Lobectomy, during which the surgeon removes the entire affected lobe
• Lymph node dissection, during which the surgeon removes the lymph nodes around the lung
• Biopsy, during which a surgeon removes suspicious lung tissue to determine if it is cancerous

What are the benefits of minimally invasive robotic surgery?

“By using robotic systems and minimally invasive techniques as an alternative to traditional ‘open’ lung cancer surgery, we have significantly improved health outcomes for patients,” said Dr. Troy Moritz, thoracic surgeon at PinnacleHealth. “Patients experience less blood loss, faster healing and fewer complications. We take pride in continuing to be on the leading edge of lung cancer treatment using robotic technology and other advanced treatments.”

For more information on lung cancer services and treatments at PinnacleHealth.