While mortality from lung cancer has begun to decline significantly among men, rates for women are still substantially increasing.

Given the same level of lifetime exposure to cigarette smoke, several studies suggest the risk for developing lung cancer is higher in women than men.

Women who smoke are more likely to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) than their male counterparts.

Women are at lower risk than men for squamous cell lung cancer, which begins on the surface of the lungs and is easiest to treat.