Lung Cancer Fact Sheet
Symptoms1
Signs and symptoms may not be
apparent in early stages of lung
cancer. When the disease is more
advanced, common signs include:
May 2016
What is Lung Cancer?
Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both lungs and is the
leading cause of cancer death.2,3 The three main types of lung cancer are non-small cell lung
cancer (NSCLC), small cell lung cancer and lung carcinoid tumors.4
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Non-small cell lung
cancer accounts for
COUGH
85–90%
of all lung
cancers.5
COUGHING UP
BLOOD
(persistent or
worsening)
Key Risk Factors6,7
CHEST PAIN
SHORTNESS OF
BREATH
• Smoking, the most common cause of
lung cancer
• Exposure to radon, a naturally
occurring radioactive gas
• Exposure to other forms of
radiation, such as during radiation
therapy to the chest
• Workplace exposure to certain inhaled
chemicals or minerals, asbestos, silica or
diesel exhaust
• Air pollution
• Personal or family history of lung cancer
• Personal history of lung disease
Diagnosis and Prognosis
Diagnostic tests for lung cancer include imaging tests, such as an X-ray or CT scan, a tissue
biopsy and/or sputum cytology (an examination of mucus).8,9
Lung cancer is estimated to be responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths from cancer worldwide.10
The overall 5-year survival rate for patients with lung cancer ranges between 10% to 20%.11
WHEEZING
HOARSENESS
The prognosis for NSCLC is poor. In the US, for example, the overall 5-year survival rate for
patients with NSCLC is 21%.12 However, when NSCLC metastasizes it can be difficult to treat
and has a 5-year survival of only about 1%.12
Incidence
UNEXPLAINED
WEIGHT LOSS
HEADACHE
BONE PAIN
Lung cancer has been the most
common cancer in the world for
several decades.10 In 2012, there
were an estimated 1.8 million new
cases of lung cancer diagnosed.10
It is estimated that in 2015, more
than 221,000 people in the U.S.
were diagnosed with lung cancer
and more than 158,000 would die
of this disease.13 In 2012, there were
more than 409,000 new cases of
lung cancer in Europe diagnosed,
and over 353,000 lung cancer
deaths.14
The Most Common and
Deadly Cancer Worldwide10
Cases
~1.8M
~1.6M
~1.1M
Deaths
~1.6M
~522K
~307K
Lung
Breast
Prostate
Treatment15,16
Current treatment options for lung cancer may include:
• Chemotherapy
• Radiotherapy
• Chemoradiotherapy (a combination of
radiotherapy and chemotherapy)
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Surgery
• Targeted agents
• Immunotherapy
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Lung Cancer Fact Sheet
May 2016
Need for Further Research
Despite advances in the field of lung cancer, the prognosis for patients remains poor, especially for metastatic NSCLC.10,12
There is a clear unmet medical need for new treatment options. To learn about current clinical trials in lung cancer, visit
www.clinicaltrials.gov and search for ‘lung cancer.’
References
1. Mayo Clinic. Lung Cancer Symptoms. Available from: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lung-cancer/basics/symptoms/con-20025531. Accessed April 2016.
2. Lungcancer.org. What is Lung Cancer? Available from: http://www.lungcancer.org/find_information/publications/163-lung_cancer_101/265-what_is_lung_cancer. Last
accessed April 2016.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lung Cancer Awareness. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/resources/features/lungcancer/. Last accessed
April 2016.
4. American Cancer Society. Lung Cancer. Available from: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/lungcancer/. Last accessed April 2016.
5. American Cancer Society. Lung Cancer (Non-Small Cell). Available from: http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003115-pdf.pdf. Accessed April
2016.
6. Cancer Research UK. Lung Cancer Risks and Causes. Available from: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/type/lung-cancer/about/lung-cancer-risks-and-causes. Accessed April 2016.
7. American Cancer Society. What Are the Risk Factors for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer? Available from: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/lungcancer-non-smallcell/overviewguide/lung-cancer-non-small-cell-overview-what-causes. Accessed April 2016.
8. Mayo Clinic. Lung Cancer. Available from: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lung-cancer/basics/tests-diagnosis/con-20025531. Last accessed April 2016.
9. National Cancer Institute. NCI Dictionary of Terms – Sputum Cytology. Available from: http://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms?cdrid=335080.
Accessed April 2016.
10. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). GLOBOCAN 2012: Estimated Cancer Incidence, Mortality and Prevalence Worldwide in 2012; Lung Cancer.
Available from: http://globocan.iarc.fr/Pages/fact_sheets_cancer.aspx. Accessed April 2016.
11. American Cancer Society. Global Cancer Facts and Firgures: 3rd Edition. Available from: http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@research/documents/document/acspc-044738.pdf. Accessed May 2016
12. Cancer.net. Lung Cancer – Non-Small Cell: Statistics. Available from: http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/lung-cancer-non-small-cell/statistics. Accessed April 2016.
13. National Cancer Institute. SEER Stat Fact Sheet: Lung and Bronchus. Available from: http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/lungb.html. Accessed April 2016.
14. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)/EUCAN. Lung Cancer Including Trachea and Bronchus; Estimated Incidence, Mortality & Prevalence for Both Sexes.
Available from: http://eco.iarc.fr/eucan/Cancer.aspx?Cancer=18#block-table-a. Accessed April 2016.
15. NCCN. Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Guidelines version 4, 2016. Available from: http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/nscl.pdf. Accessed April 2016.
16. Reck M. et al. Metastatic Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for Diagnosis, Treatment and Follow-up. Annals of Oncology. 2014;25
Suppl 3:iii27-39
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About Merck
Merck is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees work to further develop
technologies that improve and enhance life – from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research
and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2015, Merck generated sales of € 12.85 billion in 66 countries.
Founded in 1668, Merck is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed
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the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.
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