Lung Cancer is the Leading Cause of Cancer Death in Washington
10/28/99
The 1997 Cancer in Washington report, released today, makes the point more than ever that Washington needs a statewide tobacco prevention plan.
The report, which summarizes data on the state's 24 most common types of cancer, indicates that lung cancer is the third most frequently diagnosed cancer after prostate and breast cancer -- and the leading cause of cancer death. In 1997, there were 26,517 new cases of cancer overall. Thirteen percent or 3,426 of those cases were lung cancer. What is more, the majority of lung cancer cases and deaths are attributed to smoking.
``When it comes to preventing tobacco-related disease, we're not just talking about reducing and stopping the typically understood smoking illnesses such as lung, throat and mouth cancer, but other types of diseases as well,'' said Mary Selecky, secretary, state Department of Health.
Cigarettes
