Lung cancer: Scottish data

Incidence

In Scotland, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer, lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men after prostate cancer, and the second most common in women after breast cancer. It accounts for 15.9% of all cancers diagnosed in men, and 16.6% of all cancers diagnosed in women. The incidence of lung cancer has been falling in men since the late 1970's but has been increasing in women for several decades to reach a more recent plateau (see Chart 1
 Close ). The disease is uncommon below the age of 40. Thereafter, incidence increases quite steeply with age.

The PHS publication below includes lung cancer registrations data for individual health board areas. For lung cancer registrations data at local authority level see the Scottish Government open data platform.

PHS publication and data: Cancer Incidence in Scotland

Mortality

Lung cancer is the most common cause of death from cancer in both men and women in Scotland. Since lung cancer has a generally poor prognosis, trends in mortality are very similar to trends in incidence (see Chart 2
 Close ).

In 2019, Lung cancer accounted for 4,095 deaths in Scotland, representing a 25.3% of deaths caused by all cancers.

PHS data file: Lung cancer annual mortality (1489Kb) 

Survival

Survival from lung cancer is poor with just over 10% of patients still alive at five years after diagnosis.

PHS publication and data: Cancer Survival in Scotland

Prevalence

The generally poor survival from lung cancer means that the prevalence of the disease is low compared to some other common cancers (such as breast cancer) with more favourable prognosis.

PHS publication and data: Cancer Incidence in Scotland  

Lifetime Risk

Based on current rates of disease, an estimated 1 in 12 men, and 1 in 13 women develop lung cancer during their lifetime.

PHS publication and data: Cancer Incidence in Scotland  

Deprivation

Lung cancer is more common in deprived areas, reflecting the generally higher prevalence of risk factors in residents of these areas.

PHS publication and data: Cancer Incidence in Scotland  

Standardised rates

Please note all age sex standardised rates listed above are standardised using the 2013 European standard population. For more information, please consult Appendix I of the PHS publication Cancer Incidence in Scotland