Myths and Facts
MYTH
Only smokers get lung 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 a lifetime among 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
FACTS
|
Males |
Females |
|
Breast Cancer-Cases |
180 |
23,200 |
|
Deaths |
50 |
5,300 |
|
|
Prostate Cancer-Cases |
24,600 |
|
|
Deaths |
4,300 |
|
|
|
Lung Cancer – Cases |
12,900 |
11,200 |
|
Deaths |
11,200 |
9,400 |
(Canadian Cancer Statistics 2010)
MYTH
I am too young to get lung cancer
FACTS
|
New Cases 2010 |
Deaths 2010 |
|
Under 20 years of age |
10 |
0 |
|
20-49 years of age |
1,080 |
750 |
|
50-59 years of age |
3,400 |
2,500 |
|
60-69 years of age |
7,200 |
5,700 |
|
70-79 years of age |
7,600 |
6,800 |
|
80+ |
4,800 |
4,900 |
(Canadian Cancer Statistics 2010)
MYTH
Only older men get lung cancer
FACT
Over 45% of new lung cancer cases in 2010 were diagnosed in males between 20 and 69 years of age.
(Canadian Cancer Statistics 2010)