Lung Cancer Causes About One-Third of Cancer Deaths in U.S.
What was a rare disease in the U.S. at the start of the 20th century, lung cancer had become the leading cause of cancer-related death by 1960. According to the latest cancer mortality statistics available, lung cancer causes more than one-third of all cancer deaths in the U.S. each year, more than deaths from breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers combined.
Cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer, accounting for more than 80% of lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S. According to the CDC, 61% of those diagnosed with lung cancer are former smokers and 21% are active smokers.
Other risk factors for lung cancer include prior lymphoma or another smoking-related cancer (kidney, bladder, or head and neck cancer); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; pulmonary fibrosis; a family history of lung cancer in a first-degree relative; and/or exposure to a cancer-causing substance such as radon, asbestos, silica, or another carcinogen.
Individuals who meet certain criteria may benefit from lung cancer screening with a low-dose CT scan, which can identify, in the earliest stages, lung cancer that may be too small to be detected by X-ray.
The Duke Cancer Institute Lung Screening Program follows clinical guidelines established by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). These guidelines recommend lung cancer screening for people between the ages of 55 and 80 who have at least a 30 “pack-year” smoking history (smoking one pack per day for 30 years or two packs per day for 15 years is “30 pack years”). Current smokers, or former smokers who quit within the past 15 years, will qualify for screening if they have no acute symptoms and are well enough to receive cancer treatment. Medicare and most commercial insurers provide reimbursement for lung cancer screening if patients meet these criteria.