It's Not Just Smoking — Here's What Causes Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer among men (behind prostate cancer) and women (behind breast cancer) in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society.
Nearly a quarter of a million people will be diagnosed with lung cancer in 2024 and about 125,000 will die from lung cancer, the organization estimates. Most people who are diagnosed are over the age of 65 — very few are diagnosed below the age of 45, per the ACS.
Health experts are encouraged by the fact that statistics are on the decline — likely thanks to a combination of smoking declining and advances in medical technology that allow for earlier detection and treatment. But those numbers are still high, and they say more can be done to mitigate risks.
