Lung cancer regional & racial prevalence

lung life

Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer-related death in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has now released a report showing the racial and regional prevalence of lung cancer.

The analysis revealed that lung cancer strikes men more often than women: per 100,000 people, an average of 88.2 men were diagnosed with the disease, compared to 55.4 women. Incidence per 100,000 people was also highest among African Americans (76.1), followed by Caucasians (69.7), American Indians (48.4), Asian Americans (38.4) and Hispanics (37.3).

There was also significant regional variation in the incidence of lung cancer: More cases were diagnosed in the South per 100,000 people (76.0) than in any other region, followed by the Midwest (73.0), the Northeast (68.6) and the West (58.8). Throughout all categories, cancer of the lung was most prevalent among older people, with the highest number of cases among people in their seventies.

An editorial accompanying the report suggests the variations in lung cancer incidence are influenced by differences in smoking prevalence, exposure to carcinogens and genetic susceptibility to lung cancer. The good news: Tobacco control efforts have been effective in decreasing lung cancer incidence overall. 


"Smoking cessation counseling interventions (e.g., quitlines) and medications have been found to be effective cessation interventions," noted the authors of the editorial. "[The] CDC also recommends a comprehensive approach to tobacco control, including evidence-based tobacco prevention and cessation strategies. For example, given that disparities in cigarette use exist, targeted media campaigns should be implemented to reduce social inequalities in smoking and lower the risk for cancer-related morbidity and mortality in minority populations."

Source:CDC: Racial/Ethnic Disparities and Geographic Differences in Lung Cancer Incidence—38 States and the District of Columbia, 1998–2006.