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Trends

Decreases in lung cancer cases and death rates among males stem from reductions in smoking that began several decades ago. Among females, reductions in smoking are more recent, beginning in the late 1970s. Lung cancer death rates for U.S. females are among the highest in the world. Death rates for U.S. males are lower than rates among males in several other countries, although rates among males are still higher than rates among females in the United States. (For more information about rates of lung cancer in different countries, visit CANCERMondial* a project of the International Agency for Research on Cancer). Programs and policies that discourage smoking are vital to keep reducing the number of lung cancer cases and deaths.^{1 2 3}

Incidence Trends

In the United States, incidence of lung cancer has

• decreased significantly by 1.8% per year from 1991 to 2005 among men.
• increased significantly by 0.5% per year from 1991 to 2005 among women.

Among African Americans, incidence has

• decreased significantly by 2.9% per year from 1996 to 2005 among men.
• remained level from 1996 to 2005 among women.

Among Asian/Pacific Islanders, incidence has

• decreased significantly by 2.4% per year from 1996 to 2005 among men.
• remained level from 1996 to 2005 among women.

Mortality Trends

In the United States, deaths from lung cancer have

• decreased significantly by 1.9% per year from 1993 to 2005 among men.
• remained level from 2003 to 2005 among women.

Among African Americans, deaths have

• decreased significantly by 2.8% per year from 1996 to 2005 among men.
• remained level from 1996 to 2005 among women.

Among Asian/Pacific Islanders, deaths have

• decreased significantly by 1.6% per year from 1996 to 2005 among men.
• remained level from 1996 to 2005 among women.

Among American Indians/Alaska Natives, deaths have

• decreased significantly by 2.3% per year from 1996 to 2005 among men.
• increased significantly by 2.9% per year from 1996 to 2005 among women.

Among Hispanics, deaths have

• decreased significantly by 2.5% per year from 1996 to 2005 among men.
• remained level from 1996 to 2005 among women.

Source for trend data: Jemal A, Thun MJ, Ries LAG, Howe HL, Weir HK, Center MM, Ward E, Wu X, Eheman C, Anderson R, Ajani UA, Kohler B, Edwards BK. Annual report to the nation on the status of cancer, 1975—2005, featuring trends in lung cancer, tobacco use, and tobacco control.* Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2008;100(23).

References

¹U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Women and Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General (2001).

²Jemal A, Thun MJ, Ries LAG, Howe HL, Weir HK, Center MM, Ward E, Wu X, Eheman C, Anderson R, Ajani UA, Kohler B, Edwards BK. Annual report to the nation on the status of cancer, 1975—2005, featuring trends in lung cancer, tobacco use, and tobacco control.* Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2008;100(23).

³Ferlay J, Bray F, Pisani P, Parkin DM. GLOBOCAN 2002: Cancer Incidence, Mortality and Prevalence Worldwide. IARC CancerBase No. 5. version 2.0, IARCPress, Lyon, 2004.

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