Lung Cancer is the #1 Cancer Killer in the World
It is time to eliminate the stigma of lung cancer!
Lung cancer matters, too. Smokers and former smokers do not deserve lung cancer.
And, you do not have to smoke to get it.
Lung cancer kills more people than breast, prostate, colon, liver, kidney,
and melanoma cancers...combined.
30% of all cancer mortality is due to lung cancer.
Each year in the United States, lung cancer in never-smokers kills more people than AIDS.
The five-year survival rate for lung cancer is only 15%...the same as it was nearly 40 years ago!
Yet, it receives a mere fraction of the attention and research funding.
Lung Cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States.
Estimated Cancer Deaths in 2010
1. Lung (Includes current, former, and never smokers.): 157,300
2. Colorectal: 51,370
3. Breast: 39,840
4. Pancreatic: 36,800
5. Prostate: 32, 050
6. "Never Smoker" Lung: 28,000
7. Leukemia: 21,840
8. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: 20,210
9. Liver: 18,910
10. Bladder: 14,680
11. Ovarian: 13,850
11. Brain: 13,140
12. Kidney: 13,040
Source: SEER Cancer Statistics REview, 1975 - 2007, National Cancer Institute
Nearly 80% of new lung cancer cases are in former or never smokers.
Current smokers: 20.9%
Former smokers: 60%
Never smoked: 17.9%
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report,
"Cigarette Smokign Among Adults - United States, 2006", November 9, 2007/56(4): 1157-1161, Table 2
Lung cancer is the second leading cause of all deaths in the United States.
Actual Deaths in 2007
1. Heart Disease: 616,067
2. Lung Cancer: 158,760
3. Stroke: 135,952
4. Accident: 123,706
5. Diabetes: 71,382
6. Alzheimers: 74,632
7. Pneumonia: 52,306
8. Colorectal Cancer: 53,586
9. Kidney Disease: 46,448
10. Breast Cancer: 40,970
11. Septicemia: 34,828
12. Suicide: 34,598
13. Pancratic Cancer: 34,117
14. Liver Disease: 29,165
15. Prostate Cancer: 29,093
16. Leukemia: 21,825
17. Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma: 20,528
18. Parkinson's Disease: 20,058
19. Homicide: 18,361
20. Liver Cancer: 17,146
21. Ovarian Cancer: 14,621
22. Bladder Cancer: 13,843
23. Esophageal Cancer: 13,592
24. Brain Cancer: 13,234
25. Emphysema: 12,790
26. Kidney Cancer: 12,703
27. HIV/AIDS: 11,295
Source: Xu JQ, Kochanek KD, Murphy SL, Tejada-Vera B. Deaths: Final Data for 2007. National vital statistics reports web release; vol 58 no 19.
Hyattsvilee, Maryland: National Center for Health Statistics. Released May, 2010.
Five-Year Survival Rates
1974 - 1976
Breast Cancer: 75%
Prostate Cancer: 67%
Colon Cancer: 50%
Lung Cancer: 13%
1999-2006
Breast Cancer: 89%
Prostate Cancer: 99.1%
Colon Cancer: 65%
Lung Cancer: 15.8%
Source: SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2007, National Cancer Institute. This informaton represents the most recent available data
from the SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1976-2006.
It kills over 430 Americans EVERY DAY.
In 2010, roughly 220,000 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer and over 157,000 will die of it.
It kills nearly THREE TIMES as many men as prostate cancer.
Lung Cancer is a "Contemporary Epidemic in American Women".
It kills nearly TWICE as many women as breast cancer.
It surpassed breast cancer as the #1 cancer killer of women in 1987.
In 2010, roughly 220,000 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer and over 157,000 will die of it.
It kills nearly THREE TIMES as many men as prostate cancer.
Lung Cancer is a "Contemporary Epidemic in American Women".
It kills nearly TWICE as many women as breast cancer.
It surpassed breast cancer as the #1 cancer killer of women in 1987.
Quitting Smoking Will Greatly Improve Your Health, but It Will Not Cure Lung Cancer.
Nearly 80% of new cases are diagnosed in those who have NEVER touched a cigarette in their lives or who have quite decades ago...AND THIS NUMBER IS RISING.
The focus on lung cancer – from the American Cancer Society to the Federal Government to other public health organizations – has been on smoking prevention and cessation. This is EXTREMELY important. The best way to reduce your risk is to NEVER START SMOKING and to QUIT if you do smoke.
HOWEVER, if everyone quit smoking today, lung cancer would STILL be a public health issue for thirty or forty years. Lung cancer in NEVER-smokers is still the SIXTH LARGEST cancer killer in the world.
Nonsmoking-related causes of lung cancer include Genetics, Air pollution (as high a cancer risk as living with a smoker), Radon (the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer, after tobacco smoke), and Exposure to asbestos, uranium, arsenic, diesel fuel and other carcinogens.
The focus on lung cancer – from the American Cancer Society to the Federal Government to other public health organizations – has been on smoking prevention and cessation. This is EXTREMELY important. The best way to reduce your risk is to NEVER START SMOKING and to QUIT if you do smoke.
HOWEVER, if everyone quit smoking today, lung cancer would STILL be a public health issue for thirty or forty years. Lung cancer in NEVER-smokers is still the SIXTH LARGEST cancer killer in the world.
Nonsmoking-related causes of lung cancer include Genetics, Air pollution (as high a cancer risk as living with a smoker), Radon (the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer, after tobacco smoke), and Exposure to asbestos, uranium, arsenic, diesel fuel and other carcinogens.
Screening & Diagnosis Are Major Challenges.
In its early stages, lung cancer is often symptomless.
Symptoms can include persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, hoarseness, recurrent pneumonia & bronchitis, fatigue, and weight loss.
Lung cancer does not respond to most existing therapies.
Symptoms can include persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, hoarseness, recurrent pneumonia & bronchitis, fatigue, and weight loss.
Lung cancer does not respond to most existing therapies.
3 out of 5 patients diagnosed with lung cancer will die within 12 months.
The five-year survival rate of lung cancer is only 15.8%. Breast cancer has a 89% five-year survival rate. Prostate cancer's five-year survival rate is 99.1%.
