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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lung cancer has surpassed breast cancer as the leading cause of cancer deaths in women. One-fourth of all female cancer deaths are caused from lung cancer, and lung cancer causes as many deaths in women as breast and gynecological cancers combined.

Twenty-six percent of all female deaths in the United States are from lung cancer, with smoking being the No. 1 cause of lung cancer. Eighty percent of lung cancer deaths in women are due to smoking. Smokers are 10 to 20 times more likely to develop lung cancer. The habit accounts for at least 30 percent of all cancer deaths and 87 percent of lung cancer deaths.

Among men and women in the United States, lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer, accounting for more deaths than breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer combined. In 2009, the American Cancer Society estimates that the incidence of lung cancer will be 103,350 with deaths of 70,490 people. Also in 2009, 5,370 women will be diagnosed with lung cancer, which will account for 4,520 deaths.

Blount Memorial Cancer Center Director Carmen McCloud says the Cancer Center had 86 female patients who suffered from lung cancer in the last two years. She said smoking caused 90 percent of those lung cancer cases. Thursday is Great American Smokeout Day, which is a good time to think about giving up tobacco products, she says.

"The Great American Smokeout is a day to stop smoking and change your life. On Thursday, free information on how to quit smoking will be available in the hospital's outpatient lobby between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.," McCloud adds.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), within 20 minutes of quitting smoking, blood pressure drops to normal, pulse slows to normal and the temperature of your hands and feet increases to normal. Within eight hours of quitting, the carbon monoxide level in your blood decreases and the oxygen level in your blood increases to normal. Within 24 hours, your chance of a heart attack decreases. Within 48 hours of quitting smoking, your damaged nerve endings begin to re-grow and your sense of smell and taste begin to improve. Within just 72 hours, the nicotine is completely out of your body and your bronchial tubes relax, making it easier to breathe.

The ACS says that within a year:

2 weeks to 3 months: Blood circulation improves throughout the body; exercise becomes easier; and lung function increases by 30 percent.

1 to 9 months: Coughing, shortness of breath and sinus congestion decrease; cilia re-grow in lungs, increasing the lungs ability to clean themselves and reduce frequency of infections; and your body's overall energy level increases.

1 year: Your risk of heart disease is reduced by half.

For the rest of your life:

5 years: Risk of stroke decreases to the level of non-smokers.

10 years: Risk of lung cancer is reduced by half; precancerous cells in the body are replaced by healthy cells; and incidence of other cancers (mouth, larynx, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas) decrease.

15 years: Overall risk of death nearly returns to the level of someone who never smoked; and risks of heart disease and lung cancer return to levels of a non-smoker.

The Women's Health column is provided by the staff and associates of Blount Memorial Hospital. For more information on this column call 983-7211.