American Lung Association: Lung Cancer is the Leading Cancer Killer in the U.S.

More than 222,000 new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed annually. Without early detection and treatment, lung cancer patients have little hope for survival. Nearly 157,000 people die from lung cancer every year.

Key findings from research conducted at the National Cancer Institute indicate that low-dose computer tomography (CT) scans can have a significant impact on lung cancer mortality. This study, published in yesterday's New England Journal of Medicine, is the first comprehensive clinical trial to find that screening high risk individuals with low-dose CT reduces lung cancer deaths by 20 percent compared with chest x-ray. Investing in research leads to life-saving breakthroughs.