How many people get lung cancer?

The American Cancer Society's estimates for lung cancer (both small cell and non-small cell) in the United States for 2013 are:

• About 228,190 new cases of lung cancer (both small cell and non-small cell)
• About 159,480 deaths from lung cancer

Lung cancer (both small cell and non-small cell) is by far the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women. More people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. Lung cancer is fairly rare in people under the age of 45.

The average lifetime chance that a man will develop lung cancer is about 1 in 13. For a woman it is 1 in 16. These numbers include both smokers and non-smokers. For smokers the risk is much higher, while for non-smokers the risk is lower.

Survival statistics based on the stage (extent) of the cancer are covered in the section, "Survival rates for small cell lung cancer."