Lung cancer
Lung cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer in Australia.
Considering the 5-year survival rate for lung cancer is among the lowest of all cancer types, it becomes clear that the cost burden of lung cancer can be significant with patients possibly spending more over a shorter period of time.
- People who smoke are 25 times more likely to develop lung cancer than those who don't smoke.
- It can take decades for lung cancer to develop with those most commonly diagnosed a 60 years or over.
- It's important to realise that lung cancer can also affect people who have never smoked.
- 35% of females diagnosed with lung cancer are non-smokers.
It's common for people with lung disease to have other chronic conditions such as heart disease, which have similar risk factors to lung cancer, notably smoking and age.
