Lung cancer

Lung cancer is a malignant tumour of the lungs. Most commonly it is bronchogenic carcinoma (about 90%). Lung cancer is the most lethal malignant tumour worldwide, causing up to 3 million deaths annually.

Epidemiology

The population segment most likely to develop lung cancer is the over-fifties who also have a history of smoking. Lung cancer is the second most commonly occurring form of cancer in most western countries, and it is the leading cancer-related cause of death for men and women. It is expected that 2001 will have seen 169,500 new cases of lung cancer in the US; 90,700 in men and 78,000 in women. Although the rate of men dying from lung cancer is declining in western countries, it is actually increasing for women due to the increased takeup of smoking by this group.

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The British Doctors Study, published in the 1950s, first offered solid evidence on the link between lung cancer and smoking.

Related Topics:
British Doctors Study - 1950s

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Not all cases of lung cancer are due to smoking, but the role of passive smoking is increasingly being recognised as a risk factor for lung cancer, leading to policy interventions to decrease undesired exposure of non-smokers to others' tobacco smoke.

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In the Second World and Third World, smoking-related lung cancer is rising rapidly in incidence. Countries such as China are expected to see a marked increase in lung cancer cases as smoking is exceedingly common and other causes of death (such as infections) are becoming less common, revealing an "iceberg" of pulmonary neoplasms. Cheap tobacco products and heavy advertising are seen by health campaigners as a major problem in these countries.

Related Topics:
Second World - Third World - China - Infection

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