Lung Cancer Statistics

Question: what is the statistics of lung cancer?

Answer: It depends on the stage. You should go the website mentioned by the other respond. My mother was diagnosed with stage iv non-small cell cancer in 2006. I read all I could about the survival rate about it and mostly everything said most don't live past 5 years after diagnosis. My mother died 2 1/2 years after diagnosis. :( The earlier you detect it the better, however symptoms don't typically emerge until it is in the later stages. If it is caught in the early stages, I would think it's because they were given a test for something else, and cancer showed up.

Question: Statistics show an arthritic knee is linked with lung cancer...should doctors insist on an X ray follow up? Is this statistic common knowledge in the medical world for GPs? More common in men...should women be included for follow up?

Answer: I doubt it is for GPs, unless they read all the medical journals, such as the New England Journal of Medicine, the AMA Journal, or The Lancet. If the GP doesn't suggest the follow-up knee xray, the patient should insist on it, and order a chest xray, too. Just because it hasn't been studied in women doesn't mean they aren't at risk.

Question: How long does someone with lung cancer typically live? Someone in my family was just diagnosed with it, and I tried looking it up, but all I found were scary statistics. Most said that people with lung cancer don't typically live longer than a year. That can't be right, can it? Is that statistic just for people who don't have it treated? I really want to know because those statistics scared me a little. Any help is appreciated!

Answer: Hello: Im Carol I am so far a survivor of small cell carcinoma: Usually you live only a few years at most. But if you have part of the lung where the cancer is removed and go through chemo and than radiation you have a better chance of living. They took my left lung July 2004 I spent 3 weeks in the hospital and than chemo and radiation. Most of the time the doctors don't want to remove part of the lung because your chances of surviving the surgery is high but I made it and now I have to do treatment 2 X a day with a breathing Machine with a steroid treatment. But I am alive and I try not to let the cancer slow me down. A lot of it is I don't give up and I refuse to be depressed and I look around and say I can help that person do what ever than I just do it. for the 4th of july I made cotton candy at a fund raiser. But I have never learned to accept what the doctor says as fact. When they say your going to die in a year I just say your not God and I don't have a expiration date on me any where so Im here till God calls me home. A friend of mine was dx with lung cancer too and he was starting to give up but he is doing prity good now. that has been around a year. So if pep talks will help do it. If prayer will help do it and if laughter will help do it and if surgery will help do it. same with any treatments. But don't give up

Question: OF CURRENT TOBBACO SMOKERS... How many of them will develope lung cancer? is it the majority of them? I cant find anything but statistics like "90% of lung cancer is caused by smoking" I don't wanna know what percentage of lung caner is caused by smoking. I wanna know what percentage of life long smokers develope lung cancer... I smoke about 1/2 a pack a day and I just wanna what my chances are of developing cancer from it later on. PLEASE! Only educated answers...

Answer: No, it is not a majority - it is a minority of chronic smokers who go on to develop lung cancer. Here's info from a Canadian study that asked this same question: Male smokers - lifetime risk of lung cancer is 1 in 6 [so 5 out of 6 chronic smokers never got lung cancer in his study] Female smokers – the risk of lung cancer is 1 in 9 Risk of lung cancer in non-smokers is 1 in 77 Can J Public Health. 1994 Nov-Dec;85(6):385-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7895211 Note that most people get away with smoking as far as lung cancer. But cancers of the mouth, throat esophagus, stomach and bladder are also increased in chronic smokers. There are also cardiovascular and lung disease risks. One estimate is that about half of chronic smokers will have one or more of the many adverse medical consequences from their smoking addiction. Best thing is to quit if you can. Then your risk will drop back over the next 15 -20 years to something very close to the risk of a person who never smoked.

Question: Is there any proof BESIDES "Epidemiology" that CIGARETTES cause Lung Cancer? I was reading in an article that the only proof that researchers have is by linking the statistics of people who smoke and how many of them get lung cancer, does anyone know if there is any factual proof besides Epidemiological theories...? Yeah, i kind of wanted to know this as it is for coursework and ALSO.... The question was if they had proof over a microscope for example!

Answer: As a smoker I could fill a page defending the fact that smoking caused lung cancer but I don't have positive facts to say it doesn't, although there isn't 100% facts that says it does? My grandad died age 60 of lung cancer and never smoked, my dad had a lung removed due to lung cancer and he was a heavy smoker and recovered but 3 years later he died of bowel cancer? But to all those out there that insult smokers for our habit just stop and think of those who drive cars are putting more carcinogenic chemicals into their cars and the air from exhaust fumes? Here is some info I Googled, Lung cancer 'link to lack of sun' Lack of sunlight may increase the risk of lung cancer, a study suggests. Researchers found lung cancer rates were highest in countries furthest from the equator, where exposure to sunlight is lowest. More lung cancer in poorer areas People living in deprived areas of the East Midlands are two-and-a-half times more likely to get lung cancer than those in affluent areas, a report says. Breathing in other carcinogens in the workplace, for example asbestos, can also trigger cancer. Some people seem to be genetically predisposed to developing lung cancer. Overall tobacco smoking is estimated to be responsible for approximately 30% of cancer deaths in developed countries - How do the other 70% get lung cancer? Alcohol also causes cancers

Question: Why is lung cancer so deadly? Why is lung caner the most deadly cancer? What are statistics and facts about lung caner. I need some info please!!!!

Answer: it attacks your lungs ripping them and making them black and making it hard to breath. I had to touch and watch a smokers lungs fill up with air in health.. not pretty

Question: Lung cancer word statistic in 2005 , 2006 , 2007?

Answer: http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Cancertype/Lung my dad died of of 9 years ago

Question: In a British study around 1950, a group of 649 men with lung cancer were surveyed.? In a British study around 1950, a group of 649 men with lung cancer were surveyed. A control group of the same size was established from a set of men who did not have lung cancer The groups were matched according to ethnicity, age, and socioeconomic status. The statistics from the survey follow.

Answer: yes. i remember that survey.

Question: If a person smokes, what are the chances that he will get lung cancer? They say there's an "increased" chance. But what are the real statistics, on average?

Answer: Less than 20%. Besides smoking, genetics plays a big role in whether a person gets lung cancer as well as environmental issues such as pollution and radon in your home. While all smokers and former smokers are at higher risk for lung cancer, less than 20 percent of these "ever smokers" eventually develop the disease. "We need to get a better handle on how genetic factors increase risk and what molecular pathways are involved in development of lung cancer," Amos said. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080402131137.htm If you want to compare that to other cancers in the general population, 12.7% of all women will probably get breast cancer. 20% of all men will get prostate cancer. About 20% of all people will get skin cancer.

Question: What are the chances someone who smokes will get lung cancer? I am interested in an answer from someone familiar with the statistics if possible.

Answer: I heard once that lung cancer strikes about 1 or 2 smokers in 10. I don't know if that is a good number, but I think it is. However, lung cancer is NOT the only way smoking can kill you and none of them are quick. Smoking contributes to a number of different cancers, heart disease, and emphysema. Emphysema is a terrible way to die. You can't get enough air. Then you go on oxygen and after a while you still cannot get enough air. In addition, smoking makes you look old. Nicotine causes the blood vessels to contract which cuts down the blood supply to your skin so your skin looks older quicker than normal aging.

Question: how many people survive lung cancer? My sister has been told that she may have lung cancer. My parents and other people we know have had lung cancer and underwent chemotherapy..and still died. she is thinking about not having chemo because she will die anyways..and going through chemo is so hard on a person. Anyone have any encouraging statistics on surviving?

Answer: My heart goes out to you and your sister. People DO survive lung cancer. Taking chemo is a tough decision to make, it can destroy the quality time you may have left IF hers is NOT in a curable stage. Most doctors WILL give honest answers IF the patients ASK: Is my cancer curable? What are my chances of surviving with surgery only? What are my chances of surviving WITH and WITHOUT chemo? Or WITH and WITHOUT radiation? She might need you to go with her to ask these questions, (I encourage you to WRITE DOWN your questions, and let the doctor SEE you have a list of questions...) for the support, and so you can reaffirm what she was told. An amazing number of people are unable to clearly remember and process the info they are given when the disease is life-threatening. If you were with her, and later she can't quite recall the information, you could gentley help her work through the answers. Encourage her to get second opinions if she feels she needs more information. Not EVERY form of cancer, not EVERY patient is good candidate for chemo. Chemo can often cause more life ravaging consequences than the cancer itself. I can understand her hesitancy in NOT jumping into chemotherapy. Please do not let anyone make her feel like a "quitter" or guilty for NOT choosing chemo IF HERS IS not curable. Perhaps she will choose to focus her fight on maintaining her dignity, independence, and quality of life as long as she is able to- IF HERS IS NOT IN A CURABLE STAGE. Sometimes radiation and other cancer treatments are given as a palliative measure, meaning it will not CURE the cancer, but hopefully if can keep the tumors from causing decreasing function of of organs in the chest, or from causing increased pain. If it IS treatable, and if it IS a stage of cancer that will repond to surgery, chemo, and radiation, etc, it may make it easier for her to bear the treatments if she knows she DOES have a chance to survive. She has a right to that information about her own particular stage of cancer before she makes the choice. Take care, I wish you both well.

Question: If I smoked for 18 years and quit now, what are my risks of getting lung cancer? I am 35.? I am at high risk. My father and aunt died at 53 from smoking non-filter cigarettes. I have smoked light. Please only answer if you have medical knowledge. I looked at the National Institute of Health but could not find any statistics.

Answer: I am not a doctor but have worked for them for 30 years. I heard one tell a patient at one time that while there is still a risk, they lessen it everyday that they stop smoking. The human body is able to repair damage and yours will be doing that as long as you refrain from smoking again. Statistsis may not be available because other factors come into play...how many packs a day, family and genetics, etc. Link 38 on this page may be what you are looking for but it causes my browser window to crash when I try to open it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lung_cancer This website says the following: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/tobacco/cancer "Smoking cessation has major and immediate health benefits for men and women of all ages. Quitting smoking decreases the risk of lung and other cancers, heart attack, stroke, and chronic lung disease. The earlier a person quits, the greater the health benefit. For example, research has shown that people who quit before age 50 reduce their risk of dying in the next 15 years by half compared with those who continue to smoke (3). Smoking low-yield cigarettes, as compared to cigarettes with higher tar and nicotine, provides no clear benefit to health (2). For additional information on quitting smoking, see the NCI fact sheet Questions and Answers About Smoking Cessation, which can be found at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/cessation on the Internet."

Question: How many non-smokers die each year from lung cancer? Does anyone know of an unbiased website out there where I can find this statistic?

Answer: It is estimated that 10 - 15 per cent of lung cancer occurs to people who have never smoked and the risk is increased among women. A recent statistics from US(medicinenet.com), has shown that each year 17,000 cases(non-smokers) have been diagnosed of having lung cancer. However, I could not find statistics worldwide. There are few reasons have been attributed to this such as passive smoking, exposure to asbestos, uranium compounds, heavy metals, increased oestrogen levels and finally genetic predisposition. Hope, this helps.

Question: Need help finding lung cancer vs second hand smoke stats.? Does anyone know any websites that give statistics that relate second hand smoke to lung cancer? for example amount of second hand smoke to the likelyhood of developing lung cancer. thanks

Answer: Fact Sheet Secondhand Smoke Causes Lung Cancer (October 2006) Secondhand smoke causes lung cancer in adults who have never smoked themselves. Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or at work increase their risk of developing lung cancer by 20–30%. Secondhand smoke causes approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths among U.S. nonsmokers each year.

Question: If a pet scan shows no cancer, is the person truly cancer free? After 6 months of chemo and radiation therapy with a stage 3b non-small cell lung cancer, the pet scan does not show any active cancer cells. Does this mean she is cancer free and truly better? Do the statistics still have meaning? Like the 15% survival rates, does that no longer count?

Answer: anuerodoc125 is correct. A PET scan can usually show abnormalities approximately 1/3 of an inch or larger in size. If her PET scan shows no active areas of concern then any cancer present is either very small in size or there is no cancer to be found - currently. Cancer statistics show trends among large groups of cancer patients. Cancer patients are individuals. Statistics only show what usually happens among a large group of people but since each patient is only one percentile, what happens to the rest of the group is irrelevant to what happens with you. You either draw the long straw or the short one. good luck to the lady with the good PET scan. Take this as great news.

Question: statistically speaking, if i smoke 1/2 pack a day for 10 years, will i get lung cancer? just wondering if anyone knows the statistics. i eat right, exercise (yes, i smoke and i can run....3 miles x 4 days a week) i just CANNOT seem to quit smoking.... please dont tell me i am stupid for smoking, i have already figgured out that part. thank you

Answer: I would assume running clears out the lungs... my good friend has been smoking weed almost daily since he was 8 (he is 19 now) and can run a 4:35 mile. He has a pulse of 48 and his doctor says he is very healthy. I know this because we have been the top 2 on our XC team for a couple of years. Statistically speaking, almost everyone that smokes never exercises and die from a combination of problems, I would say you're fine as long as you keep exercising.