Lung Cancer

Abstract

Lung cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. Each year 37 000 patients are diagnosed with lung cancer and overall it is the third most common cause of death in the UK. The incidence of lung cancer increases with age and 85% of those diagnosed with lung cancer are over the age of 65. Less than 1% of those diagnosed with lung cancer are aged under 40 at presentation. Traditionally, the number of men with lung cancer has far exceeded the number of women, but the incidence is increasing in women (Fig. 1).