Lung cancer is a disease where cells in the lungs grow out of control and form a tumor.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.

About 85% of lung cancer deaths are linked to commercial tobacco use.

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults smoke commercial tobacco at a higher rate than any other racial or ethnic group in the U.S. — 15.8% overall, with AI/AN women (24%) smoking more than AI/AN men (19%). Smoking rates are especially high for adults over age 45.

The good news: from 2013 to 2022, lung cancer rates dropped about 3% each year for men and 1.3% each year for women. From 2014 to 2023, lung cancer deaths dropped about 4.7% per year for men and 3.5% per year for women. Early detection and quitting commercial tobacco are the two biggest reasons for this progress.

Your chances of getting lung cancer can increase from…

• Smoking now or having smoked in the past
• Breathing in secondhand smoke (other people’s cigarette smoke) over a long period of time
• Exposure to radon — an invisible, odorless gas that can build up in basements and homes with poor ventilation. You can buy a simple test kit at most hardware stores.
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals and pollutants at work, such as at ferry docks, construction sites, factories, and nail salons

Your risk of lung cancer can be lowered by…

• Not smoking, and avoiding other people’s smoke when possible
• Testing your home for radon — free test kits are sometimes available through your tribal health program or county health department
• Wearing a mask or respirator if you work around dust, fumes, or chemicals
• Getting screened early if you qualify — see Lung Cancer Screening for details