Lung Cancer

Smoking-related diseases have reached epidemic levelsamong women in the United States. Since 1980, neoplastic,cardiovascular, respiratory, and pediatric diseases attributableto smoking-as well as cigarette burns-havebeen responsible for the premature deaths of 3 millionAmerican women and girls. Lung cancer is now the leadingcause of cancer-related deaths among US women; itsurpassed breast cancer in 1987.1

Anisocoria and partial eyelid ptosis were detected during the routine eye examination of a 66-year-old woman. These findings had not been present during an examination 2 years earlier. Because the patient had no symptoms, she could not recall when these signs began. Her general health was unremarkable; she had smoked 1 pack of cigarettes per day for 40 years