New report reveals key insights about lung cancer in Pennsylvania

According to the American Lung Association’s annual report, Pennsylvania ranks average nationally for new cases of lung cancer and survival rate, but has seen improvements in both areas over the past five years.

While lung cancer may be the leading cause of cancer death in Pennsylvania (and nationally), over the past five years the survival rate has improved 27% in the state, according to a recent report from the American Lung Association.

The commonwealth ranked 12th in the nation for survival rate at 30.2%. The national rate of people alive five years after a lung cancer diagnosis is 28.4%.

Pennsylvania also saw a 16% decline in its rate of new cases, and an 11% improvement in the rate of early diagnosis in the past five years, according to the association’s 2024 State of Lung Cancer report. The state ranked 32nd in the nation for the rate of new lung cancer cases at 58.2 per 100,000 people. The national average is 53.6 per 100,000. As for early diagnosis, Pennsylvania was 16th in the nation with a rate of 28.3%

The commonwealth ranked 12th in the nation for patients opting for surgery as a first course of treatment at 22.2%, a 9% decrease over the past five years. Lung cancer can often be treated with surgery if it is diagnosed at an early stage and has not spread. Nationally, 20.7% of patients  underwent surgery as a first course of treatment.

Unfortunately, the report also found that Asian or Pacific Islanders in Pennsylvania are the least likely group to be diagnosed early, when the cancer is still treatable, at a rate of 20%. Black Pennsylvanians are 14% more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer and 8% less likely to receive surgery as the first course of treatment than whites.

“Lung cancer is a devastating disease and impacts far too many families in Pennsylvania,” said Elizabeth Hensil, Advocacy Director, PA, WV for the American Lung Association. “To address the burden of lung cancer and to help improve the lives of people it impacts, we must continue to evaluate the greatest needs This year’s ‘State of Lung Cancer’ report shows that Pennsylvania must focus on lung health inequities, adult smoking cessation and radon testing and mitigation.”

For the first time this year, the report also examined health insurance coverage requirements of comprehensive biomarker testing. Lung cancer biomarker testing is often referred to as tumor, molecular, genomic or genetic testing, and it looks for changes in the tumor’s DNA. The results of the test may show biomarkers that can help determine what treatment options would be best for an individual patient. The report found that Pennsylvania does require insurance coverage of comprehensive biomarker testing.

Smoking tobacco remains the leading cause of lung cancer. Pennsylvania ranks 32nd in the nation for adults who currently smoke at 14.9%. Nationally, 12.9% of adults are current smokers.