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Most statistics concerning lung cancer include both small cell
and non-small cell lung cancers.
Lung cancer (both small cell and non-small cell) is the second
most common cancer in both men (after prostate cancer) and women (after
breast cancer). It accounts for about 15% of all new cancers.
The American Cancer Society's most recent estimates for lung
cancer in the United States are for 2009:
- About 219,440 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed
(116,090 among men and 103,350 among women).
- There will be an estimated 159,390 deaths from lung cancer
(88,900 among men and 70,490 among women), accounting for about 28% of
all cancer deaths.
Lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death among
both men and women. More people die of lung cancer than of colon,
breast, and prostate cancers combined.
Lung cancer mainly occurs in older people. About 2 out of 3
people diagnosed with lung cancer are older than 65; fewer than 3% of
all cases are found in people younger than 45. The average age at the
time of diagnosis is about 71.
Overall, the chance that a man will develop lung cancer in his
lifetime is about 1 in 13; for a woman, the risk is about 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.
Black men are about 40% more likely to develop lung cancer
than white men. The rate is about the same in black women and in white
women. Both black and white women have lower rates than men, but the
gap is closing. The rate of lung cancer has been dropping among men for
several years and is fairly stable among women.
Statistics on survival in people with lung cancer vary
depending on the stage (extent) of the cancer when it is diagnosed.
Survival statistics based on the stage of the cancer are discussed in
the section, "How
is non-small cell lung cancer staged?"
Despite the very serious prognosis (outlook) of lung cancer,
some people are cured. More than 400,000 people alive today have been
diagnosed with lung cancer at some point..
Last Medical Review: 10/20/2009
Last Revised: 10/20/2009
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