9/1/2016

Lung Cancer Fact Sheet | American Lung Association

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Cancer

Lung Cancer Fact Sheet

Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in both men and women in the U.S. In 1987, it surpassed
breast cancer to become the leading cause of cancer deaths in women. 1
An estimated 158,040 Americans are expected to die from lung cancer in 2015, accounting for
approximately 27 percent of all cancer deaths. 2
The number of deaths caused by lung cancer has increased approximately 3.5 percent between
1999 and 2012 from 152,156 to 157,499. The number of deaths among men has plateaued but the
number is still rising among women. In 2012, there were 86,740 deaths due to lung cancer in men
and 70,759 in women. 1
The age-adjusted death rate for lung cancer is higher for men (56.1 per 100,000 persons) than for
women (36.4 per 100,000 persons). It also is higher for blacks (48.3 per 100,000 persons)
compared to whites (45.6 per 100,000 persons). Black men have a far higher age-adjusted lung
cancer death rate than white men, while black and white women have similar rates. 1

Prevalence and Incidence

Approximately 402,326 Americans living today have been diagnosed with lung cancer at some
point in their lives. 3
During 2015, an estimated 221,200 new cases of lung cancer were expected to be diagnosed,
representing about 13 percent of all cancer diagnoses. 2
The majority of living lung cancer patients have been diagnosed within the last five years. Lung
cancer is mostly a disease of the elderly. In 2011, 82 percent of those living with lung cancer were
60 years of age or older. 3
In 2011, Kentucky had the highest age-adjusted lung cancer incidence rates in both men (112.2

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In 2011, Kentucky had the highest age-adjusted lung cancer incidence rates in both men (112.2
per 100,000) and women (79.3 per 100,000). Utah had the lowest age-adjusted cancer incidence
rates in both men and women (34.5 per 100,000 and 25.0 per 100,000, respectively). 4 These
state-specific rates were parallel to smoking prevalence rates.
Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, accounting for 1.8 million new cases and 1.6
million deaths in 2012. 5
The National Institutes of Health estimate that cancer care cost the U.S. an overall $124.6 billion
in 2010, $12.1 billion of which is due to lung cancer. Lost productivity due to early death from
cancer lead to an additional $134.8 billion in 2005, $36.1 billion of which was caused by lung
cancer. 6

Gender Differences
More men are diagnosed with lung cancer each year, but more women live with the disease. The
rate of new cases in 2011 showed that men develop lung cancer more often than women (64.8
and 48.6 per 100,000, respectively). 3
The rate of new lung cancer cases (incidence) over the past 37 years has dropped for men (28
percent decrease), while it has risen for women (98 percent increase). In 1975, rates were low for
women, but rising for both men and women. In 1984, the rate of new cases for men peaked (102.1
per 100,000) and then began declining. The rate of new cases for women increased further, did
not peak until 1998 (52.9 per 100,000), and has now started to decline.3

Racial/Ethnic Differences
Black men and women are more likely to develop and die from lung cancer than persons of any
other racial or ethnic group. The age-adjusted lung cancer incidence rate among black men is
approximately 32 percent higher than for white men, even though their overall exposure to
cigarette smoke, the primary risk factor for lung cancer, is lower. 3, 7
The lung cancer incidence rate for black women is roughly equal to that of white women, despite
the fact that they smoke fewer cigarettes. 3, 7

Survival Rates
The lung cancer five-year survival rate (17.8 percent) is lower than many other leading cancer
sites, such as the colon (65.4 percent), breast (90.5 percent) and prostate (99.6 percent). 3
The five-year survival rate for lung cancer is 54 percent for cases detected when the disease is still
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localized (within the lungs). However, only 15 percent of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an
early stage. For distant tumors (spread to other organs) the five-year survival rate is only 4
percent. 3
More than half of people with lung cancer die within one year of being diagnosed. 3

Smoking-Attributable Lung Cancer

Smoking, a main cause of small cell and non-small cell lung cancer, contributes to 80 percent and
90 percent of lung cancer deaths in women and men, respectively. Men who smoke are 23 times
more likely to develop lung cancer. Women are 13 times more likely, compared to never smokers.
8

Between 2005 and 2010, an average of 130,659 Americans (74,300 men and 56,359 women) died
of smoking-attributable lung cancer each year. Exposure to secondhand smoke causes
approximately 7,330 lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers every year. 9
Nonsmokers have a 20 to 30 percent greater chance of developing lung cancer if they are exposed
to secondhand smoke at home or work. 10

Other Causes
It has been estimated that active smoking is responsible for close to 90 percent of lung cancer
cases; radon causes 10 percent, occupational exposures to carcinogens account for
approximately 9 to 15 percent and outdoor air pollution 1 to 2 percent. Because of the
interactions between exposures, the combined attributable risk for lung cancer can exceed 100
percent. 11
Exposure to radon is estimated to be the second-leading cause of lung cancer, accounting for an
estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year (range of 8,000 to 45,000). Radon is a tasteless,
colorless and odorless gas that is produced by decaying uranium and occurs naturally in soil and
rock. The majority of these deaths occur among smokers since there is a greater risk for lung
cancer when smokers also are exposed to radon. 12
Lung cancer can also be caused by occupational exposures, including asbestos, uranium and coke
(an important fuel in the manufacture of iron in smelters, blast furnaces and foundries). The
combination of asbestos exposure and smoking greatly increases the risk of developing lung
cancer. 13
Nonsmoking asbes
tos workers are five times more likely to develop lung cancer than non
smokers
not ex
posed to asbestos; if they also smoke, the risk factor jumps to 50 or higher. 11
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Environmental exposures also can increase the risk of lung cancer death. 14

For more information on lung cancer, please review the Lung Cancer Morbidity and Mortality Trend
Report at www.lung.org or call the American Lung Association at1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872).

Sources
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. CDC
WONDER On-line Database, compiled from Compressed Mortality File 1999-2012 Series
20 No. 2R, 2014.
2. American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts and Figures, 2015.
3. U.S. National Institutes of Health. National Cancer Institute. SEER Cancer Statistics
Review, 1975-2011.
4. U.S. National Institutes of Health. National Cancer Institute. State Cancer Profiles ;web
tool, accessed October 6, 2014.
5. World Health Organization. International Agency for Research on Cancer. GLOBOCAN
2012: Estimated Cancer Incidence, Mortality and Prevalence Worldwide in 2012. Lung
Cancer. Accessed November 10, 2014.
6. U.S. National Institutes of Health. National Cancer Institute. Cancer Trends Progress
Report 2011/2012 Update. Costs of Cancer Care.
7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics.
National Health Interview Survey, 2010. Analysis by the American Lung Association,
Research and Program Services Division using SPSS software.
8. The Health Consequences of Smoking: A Report of the U.S. Surgeon General, 2004.
9. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Health Consequences of Smoking
50 Years of Progress: A Report of the Surgeon General, 2014.
10. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Health Consequences of Involuntary
Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General, 2006.
11. Alberg AJ, Samet JM. Epidemiology of Lung Cancer. Chest. 2003; 123:21-49.
12. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A Citizen's Guide to Radon. January 2013.
13. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. National Toxicology Program. 12th
Report on Carcinogens (RoC). June 10, 2011.
14. Jerrett M, et al. Spatial Analysis of Air Pollution and Mortality in Los Angeles.
Epidemiology. November 2005; 16(6):727-36.

*Racial and ethnic minority terminology reflects those terms used by the Centers For Disease Control.
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