In January of this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published some interesting facts and statistics concerning lung cancer. Most encouraging among the statistics was the fact that lung cancer cases are on the decline.

Sadly, lung cancer continues to be the nation’s leading cancer killer. Next to heart disease, it still reigns as our number one cause of death, although the decline in cases is definitely good news.

According to the American Lung Association, proven tobacco prevention and control measures are causing the decline.

1. They reported that during the period of 2005-2009 “lung cancer rates among men have declined 2.6 percent per year and 1.1 percent per year among women.” Thus, their report demonstrates that men’s Rates are declining faster than women’s.

2. They also investigated smoking rates among men and women over the last decade, and found a correlation. The rates “have become similar, especially among those in younger age groups. This change is reflected by the data that show the gap in lung cancer rates between younger men and younger women has been eliminated.”

Still, we can see some progress overall. In the exact words of the CDC, “The study also found that lung cancer incidence rates went down 2.6 percent per year among men, from 87 to 78 cases per 100,000 men and 1.1 percent per year among women, from 57 to 54 cases per 100,000 women.”

What alarms the Florida Lung Doctors, and indeed the health care industry in general, is that this is a sign that women may account for a greater portion of the lung cancer victims in the future.

3. The statistical study advocates that much more research should be done to study the major risks for lung cancer. The rank these risk factors: tobacco use, genetics and environmental exposures.

It does not seem possible, but January 2014 marked the 50th anniversary of the first Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health. Surgeon General Luther Terry published that iconic  “landmark in public health,” January 11, 1964.

At that time, he identified “smoking as a cause of lung cancer in men, and a likely cause of lung cancer in women.”

Looking at this year’s report on lung cancer, we can see we have made definite progress in the last half of a century, but let’s look at a few other facts.

1. The American Cancer Society’s estimates for lung cancer in the United States for 2014 still include 224,210 new cases of lung cancer . The break down will be about 116,000 in men and 108,210 in women, according to today’s projections.

2. Of those numbers, they also estimated 159,260 deaths from lung cancer with 86,930 being men and 72,330 being women. Amazingly, this will account for about 27% of all cancer deaths.

3. Lung cancer is by far, the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women. Statistics also prove over the course of decades, that each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined.

The Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Centers also see encouragement in a January article in the Journal of the American Medical Association which accredited tobacco prevention and control efforts with preventing 800,000 lung cancer deaths between the years of 1975 -2000.

It is sometimes difficult to see a big picture when looking at a collection of little facts.

The “take-away” from these key facts in the CDC report on lung cancer is that America must remember that effective tobacco control measures, smoke-free air laws, as well as higher tobacco taxes, comprehensive prevention, cessation and education programs can actually save lives.

If you or some one you love has exhibited certain symptoms that are making you worry about lung cancer, we suggest you click here to read about some signs and symptoms, and then make an appointment with your doctor for some gentle but important preliminary tests.