Most Common Cause of Cancer-Related Death in Females
Lung cancer (E) is the most common cause of cancer-related death in females. 1, 2, 3
Evidence Analysis
Lung Cancer as Leading Cause
- Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death, with an estimated 1.8 million deaths (18%) globally, followed by colorectal (9.4%), liver (8.3%), stomach (7.7%), and female breast (6.9%) cancers 4
- In the United States, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths with an estimated 125,070 deaths in 2024 (65,790 males and 59,280 females) 1
- Lung cancer has surpassed breast cancer as the leading cause of cancer death among females in more developed countries 5
- As early as 1987, lung cancer had already surpassed breast cancer as the leading cause of cancer deaths in American women 3
Breast Cancer Statistics
- While breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women, it is second to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death 1
- The NCCN Guidelines consistently state that "breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women in the United States and is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death" 1
- In 2024, an estimated 42,780 Americans will die of breast cancer 1, compared to 59,280 females who will die from lung cancer 1
Other Cancers
- Colorectal cancer (B) ranks third among cancer-related deaths in women globally 4, 5
- Ovarian cancer (C) and pancreatic cancer (D) are not among the top three causes of cancer-related deaths in women 4, 5
Risk Factors for Lung Cancer in Women
- Cigarette smoking is the primary risk factor for lung cancer in women, with an estimated 81% of lung cancer deaths in 2024 directly caused by cigarette smoking 1, 2
- Women may be more susceptible than men to the carcinogenic properties of cigarette smoke, with higher levels of DNA adduct formation, increased CYP1A1 expression, decreased DNA repair capacity, and increased incidence of K-ras gene mutations 2
- The death rate from lung cancer in US women rose 600% from 1930 to 1997 following the increase in smoking among women 2
Historical Trends
- Between 1950 and 1985, lung cancer deaths in women increased 500 percent 3
- The shift from breast cancer to lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer death in women represents a significant epidemiological change in cancer mortality patterns 5, 2, 3
- This trend has been consistent in developed countries, while breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death among females in less developed countries 5