Lung Cancer Facts

Sobering Facts about Lung Cancer:

Lung Cancer research receives less funding than any other cancer; yet it kills more people than colorectal, breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancer combined!

Lung Cancer represents more than 15% of all new cancer diagnoses, but 29% of all cancer deaths, killing more than 160,000 people each year in the U.S. alone.

Only 16% of lung cancer is being diagnosed at its earliest and most curable stage.

The 5-year survival rate for breast cancer is now 87%, for prostate cancer 99% and for colon cancer 64%. The 5-year survival rate for lung cancer is 15%

Over 60% of lung cancer diagnoses are either former smokers or never smoked cigarettes in their lives.

10-15% of lung cancer patients never smoked, and these cases are on the rise.

Nonsmoking-related causes of lung cancer include:
- Air Pollution: as high a cause of lung cancer as living with a smoker
- Radon: the second highest cause of lung cancer after tobacco smoke
- Exposure to asbestos, uranium, arsenic, diesel fuel, and other carcinogens

All patients deserve compassion, excellent treatment, and support, regardless of smoking status.