U.S. lung cancer survival rate rises 21%, but there’s still work to do
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – According to a new report, survival rates for lung cancer are on the rise in the U.S., but more work remains to be done.
The five-year lung cancer survival rate increased from 21 percent in 2014 to 25% in 2018.
Experts call that “Remarkable progress”, but it’s still the nation’s leading cause of cancer death.
In communities of color, the five-year survival rate is much lower, at only 20%.
That’s according to the 2022 state of lung cancer report, which was published Tuesday by the American Lung Association.
Cases fell 11% nationwide from 2014 to 2018.
In 2021, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force expanded its screening recommendations for lung cancer.
It’s now recommended for anyone 50 to 80 who smoked a pack a day for 20 years, two packs a day for 10 years, or anyone who currently smokes or has quit in the past 15 years.
