Doctor identified three groups of people at high risk of lung cancer
Oncologist Nefyodov: the risk of lung cancer among smoking women is almost twice as high as among men. Women are more sensitive to carcinogens — when exposed to tobacco smoke, their DNA repairs less effectively. In addition, the risk increases in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and interstitial lung diseases (ILD). This was reported to Gazeta.Ru by thoracic surgeon and oncologist of the highest category, Andrey Nefyodov, leading researcher at the St. Petersburg Research Institute of Phthisiopulmonology of the Russian Ministry of Health.
“A large study by Zang and Wynder (1996), published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, showed that under the same exposure to tobacco smoke, the relative risk of lung cancer was 1.2–1.7 times higher in women,” the doctor explained.
According to him, this happens because even under lower exposure, women form more DNA adducts — molecules that bind tightly to DNA and damage its structure. Moreover, DNA repair in women is less efficient, leading to an accumulation of mutations.
The doctor added that patients with COPD have nearly four times higher risk of lung cancer than people without this disease. COPD causes partial obstruction of the airways and structural changes in lung tissue, impairing breathing.
People with interstitial lung diseases are also at risk. ILD affects the thin supporting tissue — the interstitium — which normally helps the lungs expand during breathing. In ILD, it thickens, becomes inflamed, or scars, which hinders airflow and oxygen transfer to the blood.
“Studies show that patients with ILD have a 3.5–7.5 times higher risk of developing lung cancer compared to the general population. A history of tuberculosis also more than doubles the risk,” the specialist concluded.
