Lung cancer is one of the leading killers in the United States, and is the most prevalent kind of cancer. In fact, is the most common cause of death among those who die from cancer. It is a problem all throughout the United States, and its devastation is only growing. It is important to find out how Minnesota compares to the rest of the country in terms of how it measures the disease’s toll.

Incidence of Cancer in Minnesota

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Minnesota ranks below average for the incidence of invasive cancers of the lung and bronchus. The state shows an incidence of 57.5 cases per 100,000 persons, including both sexes averaged. The national average is 65.6 cases per 100,000. The highest incidence occurring in the state of Kentucky, where almost 98 people out of 100,000 have been diagnosed with lung cancer. Environmental factors seem to play a pivotal role in this statistic, but smoking is still considered the leading cause.

Survival

The Minnesota Department of Health reports that 2,400 residents are diagnosed with lung cancer each year, and 2,300 will die from the disease. Reflecting the national statistic, Lung cancer is the number one cancer-related killer of Minnesotans aged 35 to74. Statistics show that ethnicity has an impact, with a mortality rate for blacks and American Indians that runs higher the national average for the same ethnic groups. Asians and Pacific Islanders have the best survival rates, surpassing even those of Non-Hispanic whites.

Age of Diagnosis

Two thirds of all lung cancer diagnoses were made in Minnesotans aged 65 or over, according to an American Cancer Society report. This coincides with the national average, with the majority of cases being confirmed in patients who are 65 to 74 years of age. This may account for the high mortality rate in those afflicted by lung cancer; delays in diagnosis negatively impact survival and studies estimate that lung cancer reduces life expectancy by just under 15 years. The earliest age of diagnosis, from a statistical standpoint, is around 20 years old.

Lung Cancer Trends in Minnesota

Lung cancer in Minnesota is expected to increase with the aging of the population, as well as the fact that an estimated 1 out of 5 people use tobacco. The rate of tobacco users has also been linked to the higher incidence and mortality among blacks and American Indians; both groups consume more tobacco per capita than average. Urban populations, according to the Mayo Clinic, lead the trend despite Minnesota having one of the strongest indoor air quality statutes in force with the Freedom to Breathe Act. That act has successfully banned smoking from bars and restaurants since 2007.

Minnesota Fights Lung Cancer

Minnesotans can be proud of their state’s efforts to combat the scourge of lung cancer. The state boasts some of the world’s premiere health and research contributors with the likes of the Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota. Public health agencies working together have formed the Minnesota Cancer Surveillance System, an agency dedicated to promoting cancer research, identifying and tracking new cancer risks, and supplying health care providers with the latest information to guide their patients in the treatment and prevention of all cancers.

Lung cancer is a problem in every state, but Minnesota is addressing the problem quite effectively. In doing so, it is also leading the nation in the fight to eliminate it and improve the quality of life for the victims and the survivors. The hope is that other states throughout the U.S. will be inspired to increase the fight against lung cancer and cut down on tobacco use among their residents. Overall, the statistics show that the strategies employed in Minnesota are having a positive effect.