"Women and men are affected differently by lung cancer, as well as many other diseases and conditions," Sherry Marts, Ph.D., SWHR vice president for scientific affairs, said. "If we are going to make significant advances in prevention, diagnosis and treatment, it is imperative that we understand the biological differences between the sexes that affect health.
"In addition to including more women in clinical research studies, we have to make sure that research data is analyzed to determine how diseases manifest themselves differently and whether women and men react or respond differently to specific treatments."
Women with lung cancer survive slightly longer than men, respond differently to some treatments and show higher levels of lung damage from cigarette smoke, according to the article, whose authors also call for more sex-specific research.
Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer of women, claiming more lives each year than breast cancer. In June 2003, SWHR launched a public education campaign to inform the public about differences between women and men in lung cancer and tobacco addiction. Featuring honorary SWHR board member and country music singer Trisha Yearwood, the campaign includes a Web site, http://www.HerCancer.com.
The Society for Women's Health Research is the nation's only not-for-profit organization whose mission is to improve the health of all women through research, education and advocacy. Founded in 1990, the Society brought to national attention the need for the appropriate inclusion of women in major medical research studies and the need for more information about conditions affecting women disproportionately, predominately, or differently than men. The Society advocates increased funding for research on women's health; encourages the study of sex differences that may affect the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease; promotes the inclusion of women in medical research studies; and informs women, providers, policy makers and media about contemporary women's health issues. Visit the Society's Web site at http://www.womens-health.org for more information.
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