NORTH CAROLINA — The state of North Carolina ranks among the worst states in the United States for new lung cancer cases, a new report from the American Lung Association shows.
The Lung Association examined the toll of lung cancer in North Carolina and the need for more people to be screened.
The report showed North Carolina ranked 40th in the nation for new lung cancer cases. This is the fifth Lung Association report, which was released on Tuesday.
The lung cancer five-year survival rate is now at 25% and increased 21% from 2014 to 2018, the report showed. In North Carolina, the survival rate is similar to the national average at 24.6%.
The report said that people of color who are diagnosed with lung cancer face worse outcomes compared to white Americans, including lower survival rate, less likely to be diagnosed early.
In North Carolina, Indigenous peoples are least likely to receive surgical treatment, the report says.
“Lung cancer screening is key to early diagnosis, and early diagnosis saves lives. Unfortunately, here in North Carolina, not enough people are getting this lifesaving screening,” said Markus Hill, chair of the North Carolina Local Leadership Board, American Lung Association and chief information officer.
More highlights of where North Carolina ranked in the report in other categories:
• 40th in the nation for rate of new lung cancer cases at 65.3 per 100,000. The national rate is 56.7 per 100,000.
• 21st in the nation for survival at 24.6%. The national rate of people alive five years after a lung cancer diagnosis is 25%.
• 25th in the nation for early diagnosis at 25.8%. Nationally, only 25.8% of cases are diagnosed at an early stage when the survival rate is much higher.
• 16th in the nation for lung cancer screening at 8.1%. Lung cancer screening with annual low-dose CT scans for those at high risk can reduce the lung cancer death rate by up to 20%. Nationally, only 5.8% of those at high risk were screened.
• 28th in the nation for surgery at 19.3%. Lung cancer can often be treated with surgery if it is diagnosed at an early stage and has not spread. Nationally, 20.8% of cases underwent surgery.
• 12th in the nation for lack of treatment at 17.4%. Nationally, 20.6% of cases receive no treatment.
In North Carolina, 13.5% of homes are above the recommended action level by the EPA for radon, the report also shows.
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