Lung cancer incidence statistics

Lung cancer is the 3rd most common cancer in the UK, accounting for 13% of all new cancer cases (2015).[1-4]

In males in the UK, lung cancer is the 2nd most common cancer (13% of all new male cancer cases). In females in the UK it is the 2nd most common cancer (12% of all new female cancer cases).

53% of lung cancer cases in the UK are in males, and 47% are in females.

Lung cancer incidence rates (European age-standardised (AS) rates ) for persons are significantly higher than the UK average in Scotland, significantly lower than the UK average in England, and similar to the UK average in all other UK constituent countries.

Lung Cancer (C33-C34), Number of New Cases, Crude and European Age-Standardised (AS) Incidence Rates per 100,000 Population, UK, 2015

95% LCL and 95% UCL are the 95% lower and upper confidence limits   around the AS Rate

For lung cancer, like most cancer types, differences between countries largely reflect risk factor prevalence in years past.

Lung cancer incidence is strongly related to age, with the highest incidence rates being in older people. In the UK in 2013-2015, on average each year more than 4 in 10 (44%) of new cases were in people aged 75 and over.[1-4] 

Age-specific incidence rates rise steeply from around age 45-49. The highest rates are in the 85 to 89 age group for males and the 80 to 84 age group for females.

Incidence rates are significantly higher in males than females in a number of (mainly older) age groups. The gap is widest at age 90+, when the age-specific incidence rate is 2.1 times higher in males than females.

Lung Cancer (C33-C34), Average Number of New Cases per Year and Age-Specific Incidence Rates per 100,000 Population, UK, 2013-2015

95% LCL and 95% UCL are the 95% lower and upper confidence limits  around the AS Rate

For lung cancer, like most cancer types, incidence increases with age. This largely reflects cell DNA damage accumulating over time. Damage can result from biological processes or from exposure to risk factors. A drop or plateau in incidence in the oldest age groups often indicates reduced diagnostic activity perhaps due to general ill health.

Lung cancer European age-standardised (AS) incidence rates for males and females combined decreased by 8% in the UK between 1993-1995 and 2013-2015.[1-4] The change varied markedly between sexes.

For males, lung cancer AS incidence rates in the UK decreased by 31% between 1993-1995 and 2013-2015. For females, lung cancer AS incidence rates in the UK increased by 28% between 1993-1995 and 2013-2015.

Over the last decade in the UK (between 2003-2005 and 2013-2015), lung cancer AS incidence rates for males and females combined increased by 3%.[1-4] In males AS incidence rates decreased by 10%, and in females rates increased by 18%.

Lung Cancer (C33-C34), European Age-Standardised Incidence Rates, UK, 1993-2015

Lung cancer incidence rates have decreased overall in all broad adult age groups in males in the UK since the early 1990s.[1-4] Rates in 25-49s have decreased by 36%, in 50-59s have decreased by 41%, in 60-69s have decreased by 38%, in 70-79s have decreased by 30%, and in 80+s have decreased by 20%.

Lung Cancer (C33-C34), European Age-Standardised Incidence Rates, By Age, Males, UK, 1993-2015

Lung cancer incidence rates have increased overall in most broad adult age groups in females in the UK since the early 1990s, but have decreased in some.[1-4] Rates in 25-49s have decreased by 13%, in 50-59s have increased by 13%, in 60-69s have increased by 12%, in 70-79s have increased by 27%, and in 80+s have increased by 80%.

Lung Cancer (C33-C34), European Age-Standardised Incidence Rates, By Age, Females, UK, 1993-2015

For lung cancer, like most cancer types, incidence trends largely reflect changing prevalence of risk factors and improvements in diagnosis and data recording. Recent incidence trends are influenced by risk factor prevalence in years past, and trends by age group reflect risk factor exposure in birth cohorts.

Lung Cancer (C33-C34) European Age-Standardised Incidence Rates and Smoking Prevalence, Great Britain, 1948-2015

Overall stage at diagnosis

A high proportion (85-95%) of lung cancer cases in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland have stage at diagnosis recorded.[1-3]

Lung cancer patients with a known stage are most commonly diagnosed at stage IV (49-53%). More people with a known stage are diagnosed at a late stage (72-76% are diagnosed at stage III or IV), than an early stage (24-28% are diagnosed at stage I or II).[1-3]

The stage distribution for each cancer type will reflect many factors including how the cancer type develops, the way symptoms appear, public awareness of symptoms, how quickly a person goes to see their doctor and how quickly the cancer is recognised and diagnosed by a doctor. It might also relate to whether a national screening programme that can detect early stage disease exists for that cancer type, along with the extent of uptake of that programme.

A cancer type associated with a large proportion of early stage diagnoses could be one that is more likely to be symptomatic at an earlier stage of development, with recognisable symptoms rather than more generic ones.

Lung Cancer (C33-C34), Proportion of Cases Diagnosed at Each Stage, All Ages, England 2014, Scotland 2014-2015 and Northern Ireland 2010-2014

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Stage at diagnosis by deprivation

Late stage at diagnosis of lung cancer is not associated with deprivation in England.[4]

Stage at diagnosis by age

Late stage at diagnosis of lung cancer is more common in younger adults (aged 15-59) in England (81% diagnosed at stage III or IV) compared to older adults aged 80+ (77% diagnosed at stage III or IV) and adults aged 60-79 (76% diagnosed at stage III or IV).[4]

There are no differences between late stage at diagnosis for lung cancer between those aged 60-79 and 80+ in England.[4]

Stage at diagnosis by sex

Late stage at diagnosis of lung is associated with male sex in England. Among adults aged 15-99 in England, 78% of males are diagnosed at stage III or IV, versus 75% of females.[4]

These patterns by deprivation, age and sex are probably not explained  by other demographic differences.[5]

Stage at diagnosis by Ethnicity

Late stage at diagnosis for lung cancer in England is more common in Asian-Pakistani adults (75% diagnosed at stage III or IV) and Black Caribbean adults (71% diagnosed at stage III or IV), compared to White British adults (66% diagnosed at stage III or IV) after adjusting for age, sex and deprivation status.[6]

Late stage at diagnosis for lung cancer in England is less common in Asian-Indian adults (61% diagnosed at stage III or IV), compared to White British adults (75% diagnosed at stage III or IV) after adjusting for age, sex and deprivation status.[6]

10-15% of lung cancer cases are classified as small cell lung cancer (SCLC).[1] The remaining cases are classified as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). There are different types of NSCLC, including squamous cell carcinoma  and  adenocarcinoma .

Lung cancer incidence rates are projected to fall by 7% in the UK between 2014 and 2035, to 88 cases per 100,000 people by 2035.[1] This includes a larger decrease for males than for females.

For males, lung cancer European age standardised (AS) incidence rates in the UK are projected to fall by 14% between 2014 and 2035, to 97 cases per 100,000 by 2035.[1] For females, rates are projected to fall by less than 1% between 2014 and 2035, to 80 cases per 100,000 by 2035.[1]

Lung cancer (C33-C34), Observed and Projected Age-Standardised Incidence Rates, by Sex, UK, 1979-2035

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It is projected that 62,832 cases of lung cancer (32,875 in males, 29,957 in females) will be diagnosed in the UK in 2035.

There is evidence for a strong association between lung cancer incidence and deprivation for both males and females in England.[1] England-wide data for 2006-2010 show European age-standardised rates are 166% higher for males living in the most deprived areas compared with the least deprived, and 173% higher for females.[1]

Lung Cancer (C33-C34), European Age-Standardised Incidence Rates by Deprivation Quintile, England, 2006-2010

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The estimated deprivation gradient in lung cancer incidence between people living in the most and least deprived areas in England has not changed in the period 1996-2010. It has been estimated that there would have been around 11,700 fewer lung cancer cases each year in England during 2006-2010 if all people experienced the same incidence rates as the least deprived.[1]

Age-standardised rates for White males with lung cancer range from 61.1 to 62.6 per 100,000. Rates for Asian males are significantly lower, ranging from 23.1 to 37.2 per 100,000 and the rates for Black males are also significantly lower, ranging from 30.1 to 48.9 per 100,000. For females there is a similar pattern - the age-standardised rates for White females range from 35.2 to 36.0 per 100,000, while rates for Asian and Black females are also significantly lower ranging from 6.9 to 12.4 per 100,000 and 8.5 to 15.1 per 100,000 respectively.[1]

Ranges are given because of the analysis methodology used to account for missing and unknown data. For lung cancer, 155,679 cases were identified; 23% had no known ethnicity.

An estimated 57,200 people who had previously been diagnosed with lung cancer were alive in the UK at the end of 2010.[1]