Lung Cancer in Women: A Single Institution Experience with 50 Patients

Abstract

Background: Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The incidence oflung cancer is aproximately 7-8 thousand percent in Turkish women. In this study, we aimed to evaluate theclinical, pathological properties and survival data of female patients with lung cancer who were treated in ourcenter. Materials and
Methods: From 2007 to 2012, 50 women with lung cancer were enrolled. Patient data wereevaluated retrospectively.
Results: The median age was 61 (40-81). Forty patients (80%) were diagnosed withnon small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), 10 patients (20%) were small cell carcinoma (SCC). Twelve (24%) patientswere smokers and 13 of 16 non-smokers had a history of exposure to asbestos. The most common histologicsubtype was adenocarcinoma (46%) and this accounted for 71% in patients with exposure to asbestos. The mostcommon initial Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score was 1 (24 patients, 48%) andinitial stage was IV (25 patients, 50%) in the study group. During the median 15 months (1-96 months) followupperiod: 1 year overall survival (OS) was 68%, 2yearoverall survival was 36% and the median survival time was19 months. According to univariate analysis, poor ECOG performance status, advanced stage, anemia and weightloss at time of diagnosis were negative prognostic factors. However, adenocarcinoma sub-type was a positiveprognostic factor.
Conclusions: In this study NSCLC sub-type, poor ECOG performance score, advanced stage,anemia and weight loss were prognostic factors in Turkish women with lung cancer.

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