Lung cancer (LC) incidence and mortality rates are increasing in Brazil, particularly among women. Studies indicate that sex may affect incidence, survival, and treatment response. However, overlooked or unknown risk factors may also play a role in the sex disparities observed. For instance, although smoking is a major risk factor for LC, increasing rates of LC among nonsmoking women in Brazil, and elsewhere, have been observed. Also, traditional gender roles expose women to specific environmental hazards, as they are often expected to perform domestic tasks and thus are more likely to be indoors and exposed to second-hand smoke, air pollution from cooking fuels, and radon. In addition, occupational hazards such as formaldehyde, particularly in hairdressing, disproportionately affect women. This narrative review highlights the disparities associated with LC and female sex in Brazil, and calls for more research on these overlooked risk factors.
Mascarenhas et al. (Sun,) studied this question.