Lung Cancer in Israel: Smoking Remains Leading Risk Factor Despite Decline in Mortality

Tel Aviv [Israel]: A comprehensive study by Israel’s Health Ministry has reaffirmed that smoking—both active and passive—remains the primary risk factor for lung cancer, despite a decline in mortality rates in recent years.

Professor Lital Keinan-Boker, Director of the ministry’s National Center for Disease Control, stated:
“The link between smoking and lung cancer is unequivocal. While trends in recent years suggest a decrease in mortality rates, continued efforts are needed to reduce smoking rates and prevent further lung cancer cases.”

Key Insights from the Study (1996–2021)

New Cases and Mortality (2021)

• New Cases: 2,907 diagnosed, with 60.3% men and 39.7% women.
• Mortality: Lung cancer caused 1,875 deaths.

Role of Tobacco Use

• 80–90% of cases were linked to tobacco.

Age Distribution

• The majority of cases (91.7%) were diagnosed in individuals aged 55 and older. Only 8.3% of diagnoses occurred in those under 55.

Demographic Variations

Jewish Population

• Jewish Men: A 3.5% decline in lung cancer incidence from 2016 to 2021.
• Jewish Women: Rates have remained stable and low since 2014.

Arab Population

• Arab Men: Stable rates with the highest incidence among all groups.
• Arab Women: Lowest incidence overall but earlier diagnosis, with an average age of 63.4 years compared to 70.3 years for Jewish women.

Survival Rates

• Jewish Men: Improved from 15.3% (1996–2002) to 25.7% (2010–2017).
• Jewish Women: Increased from 23.3% to 38.1% in the same periods.
• Arab Men: Rose from 14.4% to 20.5%.
• Arab Women: Improved from 19.7% to 33.9%.

Mortality Trends

• Jewish Men: Mortality rates decreased by 3.4% since 2011.
• Arab Men: Significant drop of 7.3%.
• Jewish Women: Declined by 2% since 2016.
• Arab Women: Rates have remained stable.

International Comparison

Globally, Israel ranks:

• 55th in lung cancer incidence.
• 78th in mortality rates, as per WHO data covering 185 cancer registries.

Conclusion and Call to Action

The study highlights the critical need for sustained efforts to reduce smoking rates and address lung cancer risks. The ongoing focus on prevention and early intervention is essential to continue the positive trends in survival and mortality rates.