Arkansas' lung cancer rate tops U.S. average
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The rate of new lung cancer cases in Arkansas is 68.2 per 100,000 people, much higher than the national rate of 52.8, per the American Lung Association's 2025 State of Lung Cancer report.
The big picture: Lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer deaths — but the five-year survival rate has increased to almost 30%, the group finds, up from 18% about a decade ago.
- That's thanks in part to screening, testing and treatment developments.
Yes, but: Trump-era budget and staffing cuts at the NIH and CDC — plus "deep cuts" to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act — "could threaten this progress," the Lung Association warns.
Zoom in: Varying access to testing and treatment, plus exposure to risk factors (smoking, pollution, etc.), drive big differences between states' lung cancer metrics, per the report. Nearly 227,000 people nationwide will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year.
- Utah (25.3), New Mexico (32) and California (36.5) had the lowest rates of annual lung cancer diagnoses per 100,000 residents between 2018-2022.
- Kentucky (84.1), West Virginia (76.3) and Mississippi (68.7) had the highest.
- Rhode Island had the best five-year survival rate (37.6%), while Alabama had the lowest (22.7%).
Between the lines: Deep racial gaps persist around lung cancer treatment and survivability, the group notes.
- "People of color who are diagnosed with lung cancer face worse outcomes compared to white individuals: they are less likely to be diagnosed early, less likely to receive surgical treatment, and more likely to not receive any treatment."
- "Additionally, survival rates were significantly lower among Black individuals and Indigenous people compared to white individuals."
What they're saying: In a statement, Lung Association president and CEO Harold Wimmer hailed the progress against "a disease that is absolutely devastating to too many families across the U.S.," while lamenting recent cuts to America's public health infrastructure.
- "CDC is critical in helping to prevent lung cancer by funding programs to prevent tobacco use and help people quit, and the research done at NIH has led to 73 new treatments for lung cancer in the last decade alone," Wimmer said.
- "The cuts to programs and research are devastating. Lives hang in the balance — we must keep up the momentum."