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 - see the lung cancer chapter of the UK Cancer Atlas. 
Comparisons of lung cancer incidence and mortality are available in the Scotland and European Health for All (HfA) Database.
Incidence of lung cancer is higher in the UK and other western countries, than in the rest of the world (2002 data) - see the GLOBOCAN lung cancer incidence map for males and females.
A similar pattern can be seen for lung cancer mortality (2002 data) - see the GLOBOCAN lung cancer mortality map for males and females. Further information regarding mortality trends and lung cancer can be found in the report Scottish Mortality in a European context.
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 1990-94, was lower in Scotland than in many other European countries but very similar to the English estimate (see Chart 1). 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.
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