Joan's Legacy: Uniting Against Lung Cancer
27 Union Square West, Suite 304, New York, NY 10003 • ph: 212.627.5500 • fax: 212.627.7594
 
 

 
Lung Cancer is the World's Most Lethal Disease, and the #1 Cancer Killer in the United State1, 8
In 2009, approximately 160,000 Americans will die of lung cancer.
Every day, approximately 437 Americans die from lung cancer.
Lung cancer will account for 15% of all new cancers diagnoses, but 29% of all cancer deaths this year.
More Americans die from lung cancer each year than colon, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers combined.
Lung Cancer is a “Contemporary Epidemic in Women” & Their #1 Cancer Killer1,2,3,4

Lung cancer accounts for 1 of 4 cancer deaths among women, killing more women each year than breast, uterine and ovarian cancers combined.
The rate of lung cancer among women has risen 60% since 1990.
Lung cancer surpassed breast cancer as the #1 cancer killer of women in 1987.
31,000 more women will die of lung cancer than breast cancer this year.
The 5-year survival rate for breast cancer is now 89%, for prostate cancer 99% and for colon cancer 65%. The 5-year survival rate for lung cancer is 15%.
Stopping Smoking Will Improve Your Health, But It Will Not Cure
Lung Cancer 2,3,5,6,7
Over 60% of newly diagnosed lung cancer victims are former smokers or never smoked cigarettes in their lives.
Significant risk of lung cancer remains for 20 or more years after quitting smoking.

20,000 – 25,000 newly diagnosed lung cancer victims never smoked cigarettes - and these cases are on the rise.
Nonsmoking-related causes of lung cancer include:
 

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Air pollution - as high a cancer risk as living with a smoker.
Radon - the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer, after tobacco smoke.
Exposure to asbestos, uranium, arsenic, diesel fuel and other carcinogens.
Screening & Diagnosis Are Major Challenges
 

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In its early stages, lung cancer is often symptomless.
Symptoms can include persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, hoarseness, recurrent pneumonia & bronchitis, fatigue, and weight loss.
Currently, there is no proven screening test for lung cancer, but studies are underway using a number of different technologies and tools.
Lung Cancer Does Not Respond to Most Existing Therapies 8
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%.
SOURCES
1 Cancer Facts and Figures 2009, American Cancer Society
2 Patel JD, Bach PR, Kris MG. Lung cancer in US women: A contemporary epidemic. JAMA. 2004; 291:1763-1768.
3 Nordquist LT, Simon GR, Cantor A, Alberts WM, Bepler G. Improved survival in never-smokers vs current smokers with primary adenocarcinoma of the lung. Chest. 2004;126:347-351.
4 Thomas L, Doyle LA, Edelman MJ. Lung cancer in women: Emerging differences in epidemiology, biology, and therapy. Chest. 2005;128:370-381.
5 Warner EE, Mulshine JL. Lung cancer screening with spiral CT: toward a working strategy. Oncology (Williston Park). 2004 May;18(5):564-75, discussion 578, 583-4, 587.
6 Ebbert JO, Yang P, Vachon CM, Vierkant RA, Cerhan JR, Folsom AR, Sellers TA. Lung cancer risk reduction after smoking cessation: Observations from a prospective cohort of women. J Clin Oncol. 2003;21(5);921-926.
7 Furak J, Trojan I, Szoke T, et al. Bronchioloalveolar Lung Carcinoma:. Occurrence, surgical treatment & survival. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2003;23:818-823.
8 Lung Cancer Alliance 2009 Fact Sheet
www.lungcanceralliance.org/documents/LCAFundingFactSheet2009Final.pdf

 

 
 
 
Joan's Legacy: Uniting Against Lung Cancer is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.