• Most people in the United States do not know that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths.
• Lack of awareness about lung cancer detection may lead people to miss opportunities for screening.

Most people in the United States have limited knowledge about lung cancer, despite it being the top cause of cancer deaths in the country, according to new data from the 2021 Lung Health Barometer report. According to the survey, only 29 percent of respondents knew that lung cancer was the leading cause of U.S. cancer deaths.

The Lung Health Barometer is a yearly survey from Lung Force, an initiative of the American Lung Association, that examines attitudes and knowledge about lung cancer in the United States. Four thousand people were included in the nationally representative survey. The survey report was released on Nov. 1, the first day of Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

Low Lung Cancer Knowledge

Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States and the top cause of cancer deaths for men and women. The American Lung Association estimates that more than 235,000 people will be diagnosed with the disease in the U.S. in 2021.

Despite the high rates of lung cancer diagnoses and deaths, the survey found a lack of knowledge about the illness:

• 10 percent of respondents knew that lung cancer was among the cancers most likely to affect women.
• 35 percent of respondents knew that lung cancer was among the cancers most likely to affect men.
• 36 percent of respondents knew about lung cancer screening, which can detect cancer early.
• 44 percent of respondents were concerned about developing lung cancer.
• 69 percent of respondents had never discussed lung cancer with their health care providers.

Early Detection

Low lung cancer awareness may stop people from taking appropriate measures to care for their health. The Lung Health Barometer notes that while more than 14 million people in the United States qualify as high risk for lung cancer and should undergo screening, only about 5 percent of those at high risk have been screened.

Early detection can decrease lung cancer deaths in high-risk groups by up to 20 percent, according to the Lung Health Barometer report. However, only 22 percent of lung cancers are diagnosed early. The American Lung Association offers a quiz to help people determine if they are eligible for lung cancer screening.

Importance of Lung Cancer Awareness

“More people are surviving lung cancer than ever before, but despite this progress, this survey indicates there’s more work to be done to raise awareness and understanding of lung cancer,” Harold Wimmer, national president and CEO of the American Lung Association, said in a press release. “Greater awareness of lung cancer is key to marshaling research funding, encouraging lung cancer screening, and reducing stigma around this disease.”