Lung cancer cases rise among Asian American women who don't smoke

CBS News Bay Area anchor Elizabeth Cook profiles 2 California women diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, and highlights a San Francisco Bay Area research program called FANS, which looks at why lung cancer rates are rising among Asian females who never smoked. Plus, Stanford doctor Heather Wakelee, who helped start the FANS study, discusses why she thinks more Asian women who never smoked are getting lung cancer
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[@rpchen54]

The type of CT scan for lung cancer is called Low Dosage CT scan. It is different from the regular CT Scan. It only costs 200 RMB (US dollar $25) to get one in China. In Taiwan, if you are at risk then it’s free for every other year. I don’t understand why this is not a part of preventive program in US.

[@Connie7881]

Seed oils, high heat wok cooking, poor ventilation. smokers in the family all can be the causes. I have lost 4 Asian friends to lung cancer who never smoked but cooked a lot at home in high heat.

[@myselfspritual8258]

Studies in Asia have identified this as a major risk factor. Typical home isn't designed for this type of cooking and most Asians are concentrated in US regions where the windows aren't kept open most of the time

[@wildfire8126]

@@myselfspritual8258 Scientists saw a link between cancer, especially lung cancer, and tobacco long before they figured out exactly how the relationship worked. Today, it’s known that tobacco smoke contains at least 70 cancer-causing chemicalsTrusted Source. The long-term exposure to these chemicals is thought to generate the cell mutations that lead to cancer. Tar is the residue that’s left behind in your lungs from the incomplete burning of the chemicals in a cigarette. Chemicals in the tar inflict biological and physical damage on the lungs. This damage may encourage tumors and make it difficult for the lungs to expand and contract properly.

[@christypham3386]

what about cleaning chemicals?

[@donquixote8372]

I agree. The culprit is stir frying.

[@antoniorios3910]

Flouride in the water has been linked to breast cancer. This was reported years ago... Also, Preservatives in packaged food, and the Vaxx... Nagalase has been found in Vaxx's since 15-20 years ago. Nagalase, not to be confused with Nalgalase, works like an Enzyme that promotes CANCER.... FenBenDaZole or Ivermectin...

[@longyanzhang6064]

my mom died of lung cancer 4 years ago, she never smoke. my co-worker'wife died of lung cancer last month, nobody smoke in their home.

[@lemontea128]

Incomplete report. All you can tell us is that neither of these ladies smoked. But no mention of if their family members smoked or not, did they hang out in areas with lots of smokers, etc. My sisters god mother died of lung cancer but she didn’t smoke but her husband did

[@silentmajority8365]

Karma for covid Thats my slant on this story

[@ErikNothing]

Second-hand smoke is even worse depending on exposure. Why weren't these questions addressed?

[@bophalhok3245]

I agree. Incomplete.

[@johnmckeon4498]

@@silentmajority8365 I hope you get karma. And learn to spell.

[@travelswithminky246]

@@silentmajority8365 you are one racist piece of shi#. let's hope you get yours someday.

[@clifftanch]

If it’s as simple as getting an x-ray, it sounds very cheap to add a preventative, diagnostic layer to the annual health checks for Asian American women.

[@silentmajority8365]

Ress to breeda

[@xmer3428]

X-Ray doesn’t guarantee finding lung cancer, my mom had annual physical with x-ray in China, didn’t find anything ,but find out later she had lung cancer .

[@clifftanch]

@@xmer3428 I am sorry to hear about your mother. I thought I had heard Dr. Wakelee say an X-ray might be helpful. Best wishes for your family.

[@sc.9430]

CT scans are more accurate but it's very expensive and not covered by insurance. Most people don't get this regularly.

[@imtryinghere1]

Needs to be a CT scan. And determining what the scan shows is also not 100%. Often times the results are, "We see something suspicious, but we aren't sure and we will watch it. Come back in 12 months."

[@pohanahawaii]

🙏 Fascinating report and info! Just off the top of my head, I knew of at least 2 Asian/Southeast Asian women who died of lung cancer without ever smoking.

[@myselfspritual8258]

Theres several old studies about this especially asia. Frying oils at high heat with poor range hoods is a major risk factor. Typical American home is not set up for frying or grilling or even for gas burner vocs, for decades people didnt know the risk of indoor air quality from cooking. Cost thousands to get a proper range hood and duct to outside, so doubt most were properly ventilating when cooking much less their parents generation which may have unknowingly increased the cancer risks for thier kids.

[@wildfire8126]

Scientists saw a link between cancer, especially lung cancer, and tobacco long before they figured out exactly how the relationship worked. Today, it’s known that tobacco smoke contains at least 70 cancer-causing chemicalsTrusted Source. The long-term exposure to these chemicals is thought to generate the cell mutations that lead to cancer. Tar is the residue that’s left behind in your lungs from the incomplete burning of the chemicals in a cigarette. Chemicals in the tar inflict biological and physical damage on the lungs. This damage may encourage tumors and make it difficult for the lungs to expand and contract properly.

[@Owjdnskoakansbskk]

So the entire region of Asia or mainly China and Taiwan?

[@metokshen]

Have they ever think about cooking oil smoke? Chinese cooking style involves a lot of frying and Asia woman does most of the job.

[@DulyDullahan]

I was thinking the same. Asian women tends to do a lot of homecooking that involves frying and sometimes without proper ventilation. Someone needs to test out cancerous properties from cooking oil smoke.

[@amychen7476]

If that’s the case, then those chefs work at the Chinese restaurant would be at a higher risk than these housewives cook at home.

[@jobbinal]

​@@amychen7476they smoke while making your takeout

[@metokshen]

@@amychen7476 yes they are. While most of them smoke cigarettes, people can’t figure out which one leads to health problems.

[@myselfspritual8258]

​@@amychen7476there's already studies discussing this, restaurants have commercial grade restaurant hoods vents with ducts directly outside. Typical home range hoods are like toys compared to commercial grade. I've noticed experienced cooks tend to also stand in an odd posture that i guess lets the hood fans do their jobs.

[@paranoidhumanoid]

If these women were spending more time inside or at home than other family members, did they check for radon levels?

[@silentmajority8365]

Godzilla!

[@susanrn947]

Radon or maybe even breathing in oils from cooking

[@martaleszkiewicz5115]

My first guess was cosmetic products, but that's a very good idea.

[@ohhhgggeeezzz]

Is it because of the smoke from cooking? What kind of oils they use?

[@travelswithminky246]

folks, get your blood test, mri scan, all health screening in thailand, china or korea for a fraction of the cost. the medical system is broken in this country. they will not help you.

[@yansym1]

There are a number of studies in Asia which suggests cooking fumes as potential reasons.

[@donquixote8372]

This kind of cancer including sinus cancer occurs mainly among South East Asian people. These region is also where stir-frying originated and is very prevalent. The fumes and odor from the neighborhood kitchens are worst than those of smoking. I strongly believe that stir frying is the common denominator of these diseases.

[@luisarteaga9219]

I feel so bad for these women. One might think if there is any use of butane canisters used for hot pot might be a cause. Those small heaters are sometimes used indoors. Some studies show carcinogens in butane.

[@qwenqwen1476]

Please hang in there and never give up ladies! God bless you all🙏. Does any of these ladies live with or around smokers?

[@martaleszkiewicz5115]

Good point! In many Asian countries it is still common to smoke during the meal, especially the older generations.

[@davinxi5926]

The age screening should be lowered… some docs are not following or checking the standards

[@johnchang8279]

Chronic exposure to clouds of atomized seed oils, possibly heated in non-stick pans? Canola oil (with glyphosphate in trace amounts) has become the oil of choice, cheap with a decently high smoke point. Glyphosphate is a known carcinogen. Non-stick pans, when overheated, release toxic gases. Probably best to avoid stir-frying, but if you must, use avocado oil.

[@copiedoften5927]

T-cell exhaustion may be a factor. Something more discussions should be had over.

[@MaurytheHedgehogDog]

Did their spouses smoke?

[@davinxi5926]

I don’t want to wait til “the recommend age “ to wait, why does my doctor say I have to wait ….

[@83dsvhtubb]

What kind of Asian? It’s a big continent. Do they mean East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, etc…?

[@miav7160]

Agreed! Asian is not only Chinese, Japanese and Koreans. I understand these three populations are pretty big in the Bay Area but we should never generalize the Asian group. I worked as a provider in the Central Valley and haven’t heard much of lung cancer among my southeast Asian patients.

[@phyxd2670]

Asians love there high heat woks. They also love to visit cook it yourself style restaurants with semi decent exhaust systems

[@marlslowe]

Were they vaccinated for Covid?

[@stevenrogers8939]

My grandfather smoked since he was 9 years old until he passed at age 97

[@myselfspritual8258]

Hopefully everyone around him didn't suffer ill effects from second hand smoke

[@akrenwinkle]

Ancient meme. You forgot the part "But Cousin Lydia never smoked and got hit by a truck at 45."

[@margurettesayers6804]

My grandfather too

[@kimyoung3484]

❤❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@cynthiagonzalez658]

Look at their husbands. A LOT of Asian men smoke like crazy ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️ No kidding. I have yet to find a Chinese man around my neighborhood that doesn't smoke. No one in my immediate family smoked yet mum died from smoker's cancer because her sister was a heavy smoker and they were very close all their lives. The smoking sister eventually got another type of cancer and died, more than a decade later.

[@Smithy88888]

They still use mothballs like they did in the 80s?

[@user-sn6ph7je2h]

Non stick pan..

[@kyoung5600]

Non smoker Caucasian women get lung cancer or breast cancer too...

[@travelswithminky246]

not at such a high rate of 80%.

[@joeschneider8025]

Are these women in Asia?Are these women in the United States?Let's be clear here

[@YogaPinay]

It's because of the "safe and effective" jab

[@SuperGreatSphinx]

OUR LADY OF LOURDES The Blessed Virgin Mary

[@bellastone-le9eb]

It's from covid. It's not a mystery.

[@NewYork7914]

Such an unclear news 😂😂

[@williamhenry9705]

The crippled Superman's non-smoking ex-wife died from second hand smoke.

[@silentmajority8365]

No rikee rung cancer

[@marianrooth9514]

Maybe there are more women than man

[@CrystalSashimi]

💉💉💉💉

[@nancymarshall6014]

Asian woman are susceptible to tuberelosis..so if not vaxed ?

[@AlgoNudger]

Did they take a jab? 🤔

[@lemontea128]

🤡

[@maxgluteus4263]

This trend happened way before covid

[@margurettesayers6804]

​@@maxgluteus4263First I've heard! People are forgetting the one thing that was mandated and was in the "EXPERIMENTAL" stage,made at "WARP,SPEED",WHAT A FAILURE!!!

[@maxgluteus4263]

@@margurettesayers6804 19. Ko YC, Cheng LS, Lee CH, et al. Chinese food cooking and lung cancer in women nonsmokers. Am J Epidemiol 2000;151:140-7.

[@marlarangeloff5163]

Soy?

[@wildfire8126]

Scientists saw a link between cancer, especially lung cancer, and tobacco long before they figured out exactly how the relationship worked. Today, it’s known that tobacco smoke contains at least 70 cancer-causing chemicalsTrusted Source. The long-term exposure to these chemicals is thought to generate the cell mutations that lead to cancer. Tar is the residue that’s left behind in your lungs from the incomplete burning of the chemicals in a cigarette. Chemicals in the tar inflict biological and physical damage on the lungs. This damage may encourage tumors and make it difficult for the lungs to expand and contract properly.

[@photostockcanada]

My guess, imported heavy metal soaked food from China.

[@nothereyetlost]

Notice how both women are concerned for only their CHILDREN, not their husbands. Ladies, it’s abnormal to be married, you never needed it

[@tidus1ph]

Because the husbands are big boys already. They can handle themselves and move on. The kids are vulnerable, dependent and still need guidance.

[@maxgluteus4263]

Good observation

[@nothereyetlost]

@@tidus1ph exactly. Women aren’t made to look after grown men. You don’t even look after your kids once they are grown. Why will you look after someone else’s grown kids?

[@travelswithminky246]

did you ever study? study animals at least.

[@silentmajority8365]

No ross

[@spootnik00]

Ok boomer

[@martini3642]

Vax.

[@maxgluteus4263]

This has been years, way before covid

[@mikethemechanic7395]

To much dim sum 🥟

[@YogaPinay]

Covid vax worsens​ the old diseases one has e.g. cancers. So many cases of cancer survivors that after 2021, these old survivors are suddenly getting stage 4 cancer and dead very quickly.