Lung Cancer Incidence & Mortality
Date Posted: 07/31/2008
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Incidence refers to the number of new invasive cancer diagnoses within a population during a defined time period. Mortality refers to the number or rate of deaths that occur in a population. Mortality data below are presented in age-adjusted rates on the charts, while crude death rates can be found in the data tables. Crude rates are calculated by dividing the number of occurrence of a specific disease by the number of people in the population. Crude rates should only be compared among populations with a similar age distribution. If the distribution is not similar, age-adjusted rates should be used to account for differences in the age composition of the populations. Note: Crude rates represent actual events. Although age-adjusted rates provide accurate comparisons, they do not reveal the underlying raw data shown by the crude rate.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States for men and women. Studies show that smoking tobacco products in any form is the major cause of lung cancer (Adult Tobacco Use). Environmental or second-hand tobacco smoke is also implicated in causing lung cancer. Other risk factors for lung cancer include asbestos and radon exposure.
Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment- Colorado Central Cancer Registry
What these data tell us:
The rate of newly-diagnosed cases of lung cancer in Larimer County. The ten-year incidence rate high was in 1998 at 54.3 incidents per 100,000 in Larimer County. The most cases were diagnosed in 2004 (120).For comparison, Larimer County's age-adjusted incidence rate for lung cancer was 59.3 per 100,000 for males and 41.1 for females in 2002, while statewide, males had a rate of 66.2 per 100,000 and females had a rate of 44.4. Nationally, the 2000-2004 rate of lung cancer incidence was 89.0 per 100,000 for males and 55.2 per 100,000 for females (American Cancer Society - Cancer Facts & Figures - 2008).
What this chart shows: Lung Cancer Mortality (Age-Adjusted Rate
per 100,000), 2002 - 2006
Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment- Colorado Health Information Dataset
What these data tell us:
From 2002 to 2006 Colorado and Larimer County lung cancer mortality rates decreased 10.6% and 12.9% respectively. Both rates simultaneously dropped from 2003 to 2004; however, the difference was not statistically significant. See the data table for crude rates and raw numbers. The national rate of lung cancer mortality was 53.3 per 100,000 in 2004 (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention).Cigarette smoking is the main cause for lung cancer. According to the American Lung Association, 87% of lung cancer cases are caused by smoking. Secondhand smoke can also contribute to developing lung cancer; approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths a year are from nonsmoking individuals in the United States. Radon is known to be the second leading cause of lung cancer across the nation. 'Radon gas can come up through the soil under a home or building and enter through gaps and cracks in the foundation or insulation, as well as through pipes, drains, walls or other openings (Facts About Lung Cancer).' For more information about radon gas, see U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment- Colorado Health Information Dataset
What these data tell us:
From 2002 to 2006, local males had a higher average rate of mortality from lung cancer than women (48.0 per 100,000 versus 32.2). The rate of lung cancer mortality for women remained relatively steady between 2002 and 2006 in Larimer County.Nationally, men had a higher lung cancer mortality rate (43.4 per 100,000) compared with women (41.1 per 100,000) (American Cancer Society - Cancer Facts & Figures - 2008). Lung cancer death rates for women in the United States are among the highest in the world. However, lung cancer mortality rates among males are still higher than females in the United States (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - Lung Cancer).
Additional Information:
On Compass -
- Adult Tobacco Use
- Community Attitudes Toward Smoking
- Mortality
- Perinatal Alcohol and Tobacco Use
- Youth Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs
- Youth Attitudes Toward Smoking
Outside Compass -
- 2004 Community Health Survey - Health District of Northern Larimer County
- Colorado QuitLine
- Federal Policy & Legislation - Legislation and Regulation - Centers for Disease Control & Prevention)
- Gasp for Air - Group to alleviate smoking pollution
- Larimer County Tobacco Education and Prevention Program
- Lung Cancer - Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
- Lung Cancer Risk Factors - Health Alliance Cancer Services
- National Cancer Institute - Lung Cancer
- National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion-Tobacco Information and Prevention Source - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Reducing Tobacco Use: A Report of the Surgeon General, 2000
- Smoke Free Colorado
- The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke - A Surgeon General's Report, 2006
- The Health Consequences of Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General, 2004
- Tobacco Free Larimer County
- Tobacco Timeline - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Women and Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General, 2001
Standards or Targets:
Data Tables:
Incidence of Lung Cancer - Larimer County
Rates per 100,000
|
Year |
Number of Diagnosed Cases |
Age-Adjusted Rate |
|
1993 |
93 |
57.7 |
|
1994 |
61 |
37.6 |
|
1995 |
71 |
40.9 |
|
1996 |
88 |
50.0 |
|
1997 |
73 |
39.5 |
|
1998 |
101 |
54.3 |
|
1999 |
81 |
41.4 |
|
2000 |
91 |
45.3 |
|
2001 |
94 |
44.7 |
|
2002 |
105 |
48.8 |
|
2003 |
116 |
53.0 |
|
2004 |
120 |
53.5 |
|
2005 |
119 |
50.8 |
Lung Cancer Mortality - Colorado & Larimer County
Rates per 100,000
|
Colorado |
Larimer County |
|||||
|
Year |
Number |
Crude Rate |
Age-Adjusted Rate |
Number |
Crude Rate |
Age-Adjusted Rate |
|
1999 |
1,362 |
32.3 |
40.3 |
76 |
30.9 |
39.7 |
|
2000 |
1,426 |
32.9 |
40.8 |
78 |
30.8 |
38.4 |
|
2001 |
1,484 |
33.4 |
41.8 |
77 |
29.6 |
37.5 |
|
2002 |
1,544 |
34.2 |
42.5 |
82 |
31.1 |
39.5 |
|
2003 |
1,541 |
33.6 |
41.4 |
89 |
33.5 |
42.1 |
|
2004 |
1,499 |
32.2 |
39.0 |
81 |
30.1 |
36.1 |
|
2005 |
1,523 |
32.3 |
38.6 |
95 |
34.9 |
40.4 |
|
2006 |
1,551 |
32.2 |
38.0 |
82 |
29.6 |
34.3 |
Gender Differences in Lung Cancer Mortality - Larimer County
Age-Adjusted Rates per 100,000
|
Males |
Female |
|||||
|
Number |
Crude Rate |
Age-Adjusted Rate |
Number |
Crude Rate |
Age-Adjusted Rate |
|
|
1999 |
38 |
30.9 |
47.0 |
38 |
30.8 |
35.1 |
|
2000 |
38 |
30.0 |
42.4 |
40 |
31.6 |
35.0 |
|
2001 |
43 |
33.1 |
49.1 |
34 |
26.1 |
28.6 |
|
2002 |
43 |
32.6 |
48.7 |
39 |
29.5 |
33.0 |
|
2003 |
51 |
38.5 |
56.5 |
38 |
28.6 |
31.1 |
|
2004 |
39 |
29.0 |
41.3 |
42 |
31.2 |
33.3 |
|
2005 |
51 |
37.6 |
52.7 |
44 |
32.3 |
33.9 |
|
2006 |
42 |
30.4 |
41.7 |
40 |
28.9 |
29.4 |