Lung cancer deaths among women rising in certain states while falling in others

Researchers from the American Cancer Society report in a recent article in the Journal of Clinical Oncology that deaths rates from lung cancer show sharply different patterns in different regions of the United States, over the last fifty years.

In some southern states, women below 50 years of age (born after 1960) have double the rates of women born in the 1930′s.  On the other hand, in some states like California, deaths from lung cancer are declining among most age groups.

These state-by-state differences are attributed to differences in social norms and the effectiveness of public health campaigns in various states.   Looking at data from all 50 states,  the researchers concluded there were strong regional and associated cultural trends occurring. California showed the steepest declines in all ages groups under 75. New York showed intermediate results – declines in all age groups under 75, but less steep than California. Alabama, meanwhile, showed sharp increases in recent years in death rates for women 50 and younger.

Source: Journal of Clinical Oncology