Lung cancer: UK and international data

Incidence of, and mortality from, lung cancer is higher in Scotland than in many other parts of the UK. The UK Cancer e-Atlas is an interactive tool which provides a way of viewing cancer incidence and mortality statistics for the UK.

Comparisons of lung cancer incidence and mortality are available in the Scotland and European Health for All (HfA) Database. Further information regarding mortality trends and lung cancer can be found in the report Scottish Mortality in a European context.

The World Health Organization's Cancer Today website is an interactive atlas that allows worldwide comparisons of cancer incidence, mortality and prevalence.

Although historically, Scotland has had one of the highest rates of lung cancer in the world, mortality rates among men are now higher in some Eastern European countries, and rates in Danish women are approaching those in Scottish women.

The proportion of patients surviving at least five years after their lung cancer diagnosis, for those diagnosed during 2000-2007, was lower in Scotland than in many other European countries but very similar to the English estimate (view chart (35Kb)). However, it is important to note that some countries do not have complete coverage by cancer registration. It should not be assumed that survival differences between countries necessarily reflect differences in the quality of care since there are many other potential explanations. Historically, however, there is some evidence of low rates of potentially curative treatment for lung cancer in Scotland (Gregor et al, 2001). More recently, evidence is emerging of increases in the application of potentially curative therapy, and slight improvement in survival.