What are the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in men and women?

Leading Causes of Cancer-Related Deaths

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in both men and women worldwide, followed by different secondary causes depending on sex: colorectal and liver cancer in men, and breast cancer in women. 1, 2

In Men

• Lung cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer death among males globally 1, 3
• Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the United States, accounting for 13% of cancer-related deaths 1
• Colorectal cancer and liver cancer follow as major causes of mortality in men 3
• Stomach cancer also ranks among the top causes of cancer death in males 3

In Women

• Lung cancer has become the leading cause of cancer death in women, surpassing breast cancer in developed countries 1, 2

  • The National Comprehensive Cancer Network reports an estimated 59,280 female deaths from lung cancer in 2024 in the United States 2
  • This represents a significant epidemiologic shift, as lung cancer has equaled breast cancer as a cause of mortality in women since the 1990s 1

• Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women 2, 3

  • An estimated 42,780 deaths from breast cancer occurred in 2024, compared to 59,280 from lung cancer 2
  • Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, but lung cancer causes more deaths 2

• Colorectal cancer ranks third as a cause of cancer death in women 3

Global Perspective

The burden of cancer mortality varies significantly by geographic region and level of economic development 3, 4:

• Lung cancer accounts for 18.4% of all cancer deaths globally when both sexes are combined 3
• In developing countries, liver and stomach cancers are more prominent causes of death in men, while cervical cancer remains a leading cause in women 3, 4
• Tobacco use is responsible for approximately 20% of all cancer deaths worldwide (1 million deaths), primarily through lung cancer 5
• Cigarette smoking directly causes an estimated 81% of lung cancer deaths 2

Important Clinical Context

The shift in women's cancer mortality patterns is particularly noteworthy: while breast cancer was historically the leading cause of cancer death in women, lung cancer has now overtaken it in developed countries 1. This reflects the delayed impact of increased tobacco use among women in the latter half of the 20th century 1.

The mortality-to-incidence ratio differs between cancers: while breast cancer is more commonly diagnosed than lung cancer in women, lung cancer's poorer prognosis (5-year survival <20%) compared to breast cancer (5-year survival >80%) explains why it causes more deaths despite fewer cases 6.