The rates of new lung cancer cases in the United States dropped among men in 35 states and among women in six states between 1999 and 2008 despite decreased funding for smoking cessation campaigns, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The decrease in lung cancer cases corresponds closely with smoking patterns across the nation. In the West, where smoking prevalence is lower among men and women than in other regions, lung cancer incidence is decreasing faster. Studies show declines in lung cancer rates can be seen as soon as five years after smoking rates decline.
In FY 2011, states will collect $25.3 billion from tobacco excise taxes and the tobacco settlement, a 46 percent increase over the past decade. Yet, in the past three years, states have cut funding for tobacco control programs by 28 percent ($199.3 million), and this year states will invest less than 2 percent of tobacco revenues ($518 million) in tobacco control programs, according to the report.
States that invest more fully in these programs, such as California, have experienced decreases in youth and adult smoking prevalence, decreases in lung cancer, and significant healthcare savings.
“Although lung cancer among men and women has decreased over the past few years, too many people continue to get sick and die from lung cancers, most of which are caused by smoking,” said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, MD, in a press release. “The more we invest in proven tobacco control efforts, the fewer people will die from lung cancer.”
The report also noted that states that make greater investments in effective tobacco control strategies see larger reductions in smoking; and the longer they invest, the greater the savings in smoking-related healthcare costs. Such strategies include higher tobacco prices, media campaigns, 100 percent smoke-free policies and easily accessible quitting treatments and services for those who want to quit.
Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer that affects both men and women, and the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Cigarette smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke cause most lung cancer deaths in the United States.
Study findings include:
• Among men, lung cancer rates continued to decrease nationwide.
• From 1999 to 2008 lung cancer rates among men decreased in 35 states and remained stable in nine states (change could not be assessed in six states and the District of Columbia).
• Among women, lung cancer incidence decreased nationwide between 2006 and 2008, after increasing steadily for decades.
•Lung cancer rates decreased between 1999 and 2008 among women in California, Florida, Nevada, Oregon, Texas and Washington.
• Lung cancer rates among women remained stable in 24 states, and increased slightly in 14 states (change could not be assessed in six states and the District of Columbia).