Lung and bronchus cancer remains a significant public health issue in the United States, continuing to affect and take the lives of many Americans each year. Below are the latest statistics on the prevalence, new cases, survival rates, and the economic and societal impact of this form of cancer, based on data from the 2024 reports.
1. New Cases and Deaths in 2024
Table of Contents
- Estimated new cases: 234,580
- Lung and bronchus cancer accounts for 11.7% of all new cancer cases in 2024.
- Estimated deaths: 125,070
- This form of cancer is responsible for 20.4% of all cancer deaths in the U.S. in 2024.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, surpassing deaths from colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined.
2. Five-Year Relative Survival Rate
The five-year relative survival rate for lung and bronchus cancer from 2014 to 2020 was 26.7%. Survival rates vary significantly depending on the stage at diagnosis:
| Stage at Diagnosis | 5-Year Relative Survival (%) |
|---|---|
| Localized | 59.7% |
| Regional | 34.2% |
| Distant | 8.9% |
| Unknown | 17.7% |
| Overall | 27.5% |
Lung cancer is often diagnosed at a later stage, contributing to the lower overall survival rate compared to other cancers. Early detection, such as through lung cancer screening, can significantly improve survival odds.
3. Trends in Incidence and Mortality
- Rate of new cases (2017-2021): 49.0 per 100,000 men and women per year.
- Death rate (2018-2022): 32.4 per 100,000 men and women per year.
While lung cancer remains deadly, both the number of new cases and the death rate have been declining over the past few decades. These improvements are partly due to a reduction in smoking rates and advancements in early detection and treatment.
4. Lifetime Risk of Developing Lung Cancer
- Overall risk: Approximately 5.7% of men and women will be diagnosed with lung and bronchus cancer at some point during their lifetime.
The risk is higher for smokers and significantly lower for non-smokers. Among men, the lifetime risk is about 1 in 16, while for women, it is about 1 in 17.
5. Prevalence of Lung Cancer
- Prevalence: In 2021, an estimated 610,816 people in the United States were living with lung and bronchus cancer.
This number reflects both newly diagnosed cases and those who have been living with the disease for some time.
6. Racial and Gender Disparities
- Men: Higher rates of both incidence and mortality compared to women.
- Incidence rate for men: 54.1 per 100,000
- Death rate for men: 45.5 per 100,000
- Women: Lower incidence and death rates compared to men, but the gap is closing.
- Incidence rate for women: 35.2 per 100,000
- Death rate for women: 25.9 per 100,000
- Black men: About 12% more likely to develop lung cancer than White men, but less likely to develop small cell lung cancer (SCLC) than White men.
7. Stage at Diagnosis
From 2017 to 2021, lung cancer was most often diagnosed at a distant stage:
| Stage at Diagnosis | Percentage of Cases (%) |
|---|---|
| Localized | 28.1% |
| Regional | 22.3% |
| Distant | 44.8% |
| Unknown | 4.8% |
This distribution highlights the need for better early detection methods, as localized lung cancer has a significantly higher survival rate.
8. Impact of COVID-19 on Lung Cancer
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted cancer screenings and delayed diagnoses, which may have contributed to a lower incidence rate for lung cancer in 2020. By 2021, new cancer cases began to return to pre-pandemic levels for many cancer types, including lung cancer.
Conclusion
Lung and bronchus cancer continues to be a major health challenge in the United States. Despite declining incidence and mortality rates, this cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death, responsible for over 125,000 deaths annually. Early detection through screening and continued reductions in smoking rates are essential to further reducing the burden of this disease.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). U.S. Cancer Statistics: Lung Cancer Stat Bite. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved August 25, 2024, from https://www.cdc.gov/united-states-cancer-statistics/publications/lung-cancer-stat-bite.html
American Cancer Society. (2024). Key statistics for lung cancer. Retrieved August 25, 2024, from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/lung-cancer/about/key-statistics.html
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