Myths and Facts
The following is a list of common myths and misconceptions about lung cancer. For more information, please view the 2015 Canadian Cancer Statistics.
MYTH: Only smokers get cancer.
FACT:
The causative association between tobacco use and lung cancer is well established. Lung cancer however, also occurs at high rates in lifelong never-smokers. Lung cancer in never-smokers is among the leading causes of cancer related mortality.
(Clin Cancer Res 2009;15(18):5622-5)
MYTH: If you have never smoked, you won't get lung cancer.
FACT:
About 15% of lung cancers occur in never-smokers in the West, whereas about 30% - 40% of patients with lung cancer are never-smokers from Asian countries.
(J Clin Pathol 2007,60:337-340)
MYTH: More men and women die from prostate and breast cancer than from lung cancer.
FACT:
| |
Breast Cancer
|
Prostate Cancer
|
Lung Cancer
|
|
Total
|
5,000
|
4,100
|
20,900
|
|
Men
|
n/a
|
4,100
|
10,900
|
|
Women
|
5,000
|
n/a |
10,000 |
(Estimates provided by the 2015 Canadian Cancer Statistics)
MYTH: I am too young to get lung cancer.
FACT:
| |
New Cases 2015
|
Deaths 2015
|
|
Under 20
|
10 |
n/a |
|
20 - 29
|
25 |
5 |
|
30 - 39
|
90 |
40 |
|
40 - 49
|
640 |
400 |
|
50 - 59
|
3,700 |
2,500 |
|
60 - 69
|
7,900 |
5,600 |
|
70 - 79
|
8,400 |
6,700 |
|
80+
|
5,900 |
5,700 |
(Estimates provided by the 2015 Canadian Cancer Statistics)
MYTH: Only older men get lung cancer.
FACT:
It is estimated that over 47% of new lung cancer cases in 2014 were diagnosed in males and females between 20 and 69 years of age.
(2014 Canadian Cancer Statistics)