The Health Ministry's National Center for Disease Monitoring published data today (Wednesday) on lung cancer incidence in Israel between the years 1996 and 2000.
According to the report, some 2,907 new cases of lung cancer were diagnosed in 2021, of whom 60.3% were men and the remainder women. 1,875 people died of lung caner in the same year.
The report noted that the main risk factor for lung cancer, by far, is active and addictive smoking, and that the overwhelming majority of instances of lung cancer manifested among those who smoke or who used to smoke.
As of the end of last year, there were 6,512 Israelis stricken with lung cancer, of whom 5,768 were Jews or others and 744 were Arabs.
The report also noted that the highest rates of lung cancer could be found among Israeli Arab men, and the lowest rates - among Arab women. There has also been a decline of 3.5% in lung cancer rates among Jewish men while the lung cancer rates among Jewish women have remained stable since 2014.
The Health Ministry said that lung cancer is primarily diagnosed among men and women aged 55 and up, with just 8.3% of those diagnosed with the disease in 2021 being younger than 55.
Lung cancer survival rates have reportedly increased among most population groups within Israel from 1996-2002 to 2010-2017: from 15.3% to 25.7% for Jewish men, from 14.4% to 20.5% for Arab men, from 23.3% to 38.1% for Jewish women, and from 19.7% to 33.9% for Arab women.
In terms of international comparisons, based on 185 regional and national statistics databases reporting to the World Health Organization, Israel is 55th in terms of incidence of lung cancer and 78th in mortality rates from the disease.
The Health Ministry said that everyone aged 55-74 or a smoker or former smoker is at risk of lung cancer, and should therefore take a CT scan once every year to see if they are afflicted with the disease.
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