Most lung cancer research consists of both Small-Cell and Non-Small-Cell lung cancer for their research.
Lung cancer (both Small-Cell and Non-Small-Cell) is the second most generic cancer in both men and women (not counting skin cancer). In male, prostate cancer is more generic, while in females breasts cancer is more generic. Lung cancer accounts for about 14% of all new cancer.
The Lung Cancer Society’s estimates for lung cancer in the United States for 2013 are:
- About 228,190 new cases of lung cancer will be clinically diagnosed (118,080 in men and 110,110 in women).
- There will be an estimated 159,480 fatalities from lung cancer (87,260 in men and 72,220 among women), accounting for about 27% of all cancer fatalities.
Lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women. Each year, more individuals die in lung cancer than of colon, breasts, and prostate cancer combined.
Lung cancer mainly occurs in senior citizens. About 2 out of 3 individuals clinically identified as having lung cancer are 65 or older; fewer than 2% of all cases are found in individuals younger than 45. The average age at the time of diagnosis is about 71.
Overall, the chance that a man will create lung cancer in his lifetime is about 1 in 13; for a woman, the danger is about 1 in 16. These numbers consist of both cigarette tobacco users and non-smokers. For cigarette tobacco users danger is much higher, while for non-smokers the danger is lower.
Black men are about 40% more likely to create lung cancer than white-colored men. The rate is about the same in dark females and in white-colored females. Both females have lower rates than men, but the gap is closing. The lung cancer rate has been dropping among men over the past 2 yrs and has just recently begun to drop in females.
Statistics on success in individuals with lung cancer vary depending on the level (extent) of the cancer when it is clinically diagnosed. Survival researches based on the level of the cancer are discussed in the section called “How is Non-Small-Cell Lung cancer staged?”
Despite the very serious prognosis (outlook) of lung cancer, some individuals are cured. More than 350,000 individuals alive today have been clinically identified as having lung cancer at some point.