11 Facts about Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in both men and women in the United States.
Lung cancer kills more people than the next three most common cancers combined - colon, breast, and prostate.
Lung cancer will kill nearly 70,000 women in the U.S. this year, more than breast and ovarian cancers combined.
Lung cancer will kill over 90,000 men in the U.S. this year, more than colon and prostates cancers combined.
Over the past two decades, lung cancer deaths among women have increased 150%, while lung cancer deaths among men have increased 20%.
Women are 1.5 times more likely to develop lung cancer than men.
Although substances such as asbestos and coal tar products can cause lung cancer, it is primarily caused by smoking. Approximately 87% of cases are due to smoking.
The risk for developing lung cancer increases with quantity, duration, and intensity of smoking. A two-pack-a-day smoker is 20 times more likely to develop lung cancer than a non-smoker.
Secondhand smoke exposure is attributed to approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S.
The number of smokers has decreased since smoking has been linked to lung cancer, but there are still an estimated 47.1 million smokers in the U.S., about 16% of the total American population.
Lung cancer is one of the four most common cancers worldwide, accounting for 1.2 million new cases annually. It is the most commonly diagnosed cancer, especially in developed countries where over three million people have the disease.