May 22, 2013
The West is leading a national decline in the rate of new lung cancer cases, with states like California and Texas accounting for much of the improvement - particularly in women.
Health officials credit lower smoking rates in Western states.
Lung cancer has been declining in men for years, but the decline
in women is much more recent. The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention reported Thursday that lung cancer rates among women
decreased 2 percent from 2006 to 2008, but dropped 4 percent out
West.
There were not declines in female lung cancer rates in every
state, however. Only six states saw significant drops - California,
Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Texas and Florida. That was enough to
pull down the national rate.
