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Stigma Follows Lung Cancer Nonsmokers, Such As Actress Dana Reeve, Also Get Deadly Disease Lung Cancer is the World's Top Cancer Killer

Posted on: Wednesday, 10 August 2005, 18:00 CDT

Lung cancer is top cancer killer worldwide, but treatments are improving. Landmark studies in the past two years found that chemotherapy can improve survival, and a large study is under way to see whether screening smokers for the disease can prevent deaths.

INCIDENCE: Estimated cases are 172,500 in the United States, more than 1.3 million worldwide each year.

DEATHS: 163,510 are expected in the U.S. this year, and nearly 1.2 million worldwide.

SURVIVAL: At five years, 49 percent when cancer is confined to the lung; 16 percent if it has spread within the chest, and 2 percent if it has spread to other organs.

TREATMENT: Surgery is the first choice; chemotherapy and radiation also can be used. Chemotherapy is sometimes given before surgery to shrink tumors.

DETECTION: No screening tests are recommended.

SYMPTOMS: Persistent cough, coughing up blood, chest pain, recurring pneumonia.

Sources: American Cancer Society, World Health Organization.

Source: Advocate; Baton Rouge, La.

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