The age-adjusted mortality trends for 5 cancers in women in the United States are shown in the graph below. Which of the following curves best corresponds to lung cancer?

Question

The age-adjusted mortality trends for 5 cancers in women in the United States are shown in the graph below.  Which of the following curves best corresponds to lung cancer?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

11ec160b_3987_e027_9249_b961d6023125_MD0001_00 Lung cancer has been the leading cause of cancer mortality in both women and men in the United States since the 1980s. Tobacco use (primary and secondhand) is the most important cause of lung cancer, particularly non-small cell lung cancer. Female use of cigarettes peaked in 1955, and mortality rates increased 20-50 years after smoking onset. Lung cancer mortality began to decrease after 2000, corresponding to a decline in tobacco use. Tobacco is a causative factor for numerous other cancers (eg, leukemia, nasopharyngeal, larynx, esophagus, pancreas, cervix, colon). It is directly carcinogenic to tissue by causing irritation and inflammation of the body's natural protective barriers. Patient education about tobacco's harmful effects is extremely important, as smoking cessation for even longtime users can be beneficial for reducing cancer risk and improving life expectancy. (Choice B) Breast cancer is the most common non-skin cancer and the second most common cause of cancer death among women in the United States. Mortality from breast cancer began to decrease in the 1990s. Increased use of adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiation and more frequent breast cancer screening are likely contributing factors to this decline. (Choice C) Colon cancer mortality has decreased since the 1950s due to advances in surgical technique and adjuvant chemotherapy. Additional protective factors may include colorectal cancer screening, menopausal hormone therapy in women, and aspirin use. (Choice D) The incidence and mortality of pancreatic cancer have increased in women over the last century and recently became the fourth most common cause of cancer death in women. Pancreatic cancer trends, like those of lung cancer, follow the pattern of increased smoking in women. However, lung cancer is responsible for three times more deaths than pancreatic cancer in women. (Choice E) Stomach cancer incidence and mortality decreased drastically over the first half of the twentieth century. Proposed reasons include advances in refrigeration and food preservation (leading to decreased salt intake), and better sanitation and more adequate housing (reducing Helicobacter pylori infection rates). Educational objective: Between 1950 and 2000, rising rates of tobacco use resulted in an increase in female lung cancer incidence and mortality. Lung cancer is currently the most common cause of cancer death in both women and men in the United States. __________ References: Lung cancer incidence trends among men and women--United States, 2005-2009. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24402465) Impact of reduced tobacco smoking on lung cancer mortality in the United States during 1975-2000. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22423009) Long-term trends in cancer mortality in the United States, 1930-1998. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12784323) Deaths: Final data for 2011. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26222597)

The Age-Adjusted Mortality Trends for 5 Cancers in Women in the United