Based on data from the World Health Organization (WHO), lung cancer is the top cause of cancer-related deaths for both genders. It is also the leading cancer for both sexes in the Philippines – the top cancer for males and third for females.
Each year, more than 1.2 million people are diagnosed with lung cancer and bronchial cancer worldwide. More than 1.1 million people do not survive the disease each year.
The Philippine Cancer Society certified that in recent years, approximately 17,238 new local cases were diagnosed annually. Median survival is 6 months, and the 5-year survival rate is only 5.28%. The greatest risk factor for developing lung cancer is smoking, which can be attributed to nine out of 10 lung cancer cases.
