*March 2025*
This message resonates deeply with women across the world who are courageously speaking out about their lung cancer journeys—their voices amplified by the recently launched #HearHer campaign.
Initiated by Narjust Florez, MD, a medical thoracic oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and her research assistant Angela Morabito, #HearHer (also known as #Escúchala) aims to shed light on the delayed lung cancer diagnoses women often face. Through social media and community engagement, the campaign raises awareness while also creating a vital space for women to share their experiences, advocate for themselves, and be heard.
Lung Cancer in Women
Globally, lung cancer is recognized as the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women.1 However, the last few years have seen dramatic shifts disproportionately affecting women. As of 2021, lung cancer rates among women 65 and younger exceeded that of men,2 while recent 2025 cancer statistics confirm that lung cancer remains the number one cause of cancer-related mortality in women,2 taking more lives than breast, ovarian, and cervical cancers combined.3
Despite lung cancer’s long-standing association with tobacco usage—comprising 80% of lung cancer deaths4—we know that up to 20% of individuals develop lung cancer without a prior history of tobacco use.5
A study of 129,309 lung cancer cases across seven states (Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Rhode Island) found that 16,149 individuals had no tobacco use history.6 Among women, 15.7% developed lung cancer with no history of tobacco use, comparably higher than 9.6% for men.6 Similarly, a nationwide analysis of lung cancer incidence from 1995 to 2014 found that 15% of all lung cancer cases in women were linked to factors other than tobacco use.7
Lung cancer unrelated to tobacco usage can be caused by various environmental exposures including air pollution, radon, asbestos, and secondhand smoke.8 For women, prolonged exposure to cooking fumes can play a significant factor as they are more likely to assume societal roles involving cooking duties, often exposing them to open flames and smoke.8,9
Regardless of the clear rise of lung cancer in women, especially among those with no history of tobacco use, there continues to be a lack of awareness within the medical community of this growing trend and the disproportionate barriers women face, impeding a timely diagnosis.
A significant barrier to diagnosis for women is the lack of sex-specific lung cancer screening guidelines, especially for women under 50 years old who do not use tobacco. Current guidelines recommend yearly lung cancer screening only for individuals who are 50 or older with significant tobacco usage—20 pack-years or greater.10
A study analyzing race and sex differences in patient-provider discussions surrounding lung cancer screening found that women patients were 32% less likely than men to be talked to about available screening measures and also 32% less likely to be aware that a test was available.11 Perceived stigma surrounding lung cancer can act as a barrier to timely diagnosis,12 particularly for women.9
The combination of insufficient screening discussions, the general lack of awareness of lung cancer in women, and stigma surrounding lung cancer can result in significant diagnostic delays. Consequentially, women are often diagnosed at later stages, which leads to limited treatment options and poorer health outcomes for these patients. Read more.
