W.Va. Tops List For Lung Cancer, Smoking

More than 20% of West Virginia adults currently smoke. That’s the highest rate in the country, according to the 2025 State of Lung Cancer report just released by the American Lung Association. 

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in West Virginia and across the U.S. The report finds that West Virginia has the second highest rate of new lung cancer cases in the country (50 out of 51 states including D.C.), just behind Kentucky, which ranks worst.

The report found that West Virginia ranks:

• 50 out of 51 in the nation for rate of new lung cancer cases, at 76.3 per 100,000. The national rate is 52.8 per 100,000.
  
  
• 33 out of 39 in the nation for survival, at 25.5%, which marks a 27% improvement over the past five years. The national rate of people alive five years after a lung cancer diagnosis is 29.7%.
  
  
• 26 out of 50 in the nation for early diagnosis, at 28.4%, which marks a 13% improvement over past five years. Nationally, only 28.1% of cases are diagnosed at an early stage when the survival rate is much higher.
  
  
• 38 out of 51 in the nation for lung cancer screening, at 15.4%. Lung cancer screening with annual low-dose CT scans for people at high risk can reduce the lung cancer death rate by up to 20%. Nationally, only 18.2% of people at high risk were screened.
  
  
• 21 out of 49 in the nation for surgery as first course of treatment, at 20.7%. Lung cancer can often be treated with surgery if it is diagnosed at an early stage and has not spread. Nationally, 20.7% of cases underwent surgery.
  
  
• 38 out of 49 in the nation for lack of treatment, at 23.6%. Nationally, 21% of cases receive no treatment.
  
  
• 51 out of 51 in the nation for adults who smoke, at 20.4%. Nationally, 11.4% of adults currently smoke.

“In the last decade, we have seen incredible progress, including increases in lung cancer survival and early detection rates. This means that more people in West Virginia are living longer after a lung cancer diagnosis,” said Elizabeth Hensil, director of advocacy for the American Lung Association. 

The “State of Lung Cancer” report also examines insurance coverage of comprehensive biomarker testing across the U.S. Lung cancer biomarker testing. 

The results of the test can help determine what treatment options would be best for an individual patient. The report found that West Virginia does not require insurance coverage of comprehensive biomarker testing.

A bright spot in the state revenue report for the first quarter of the fiscal year showed income from tobacco products came in below estimates. 

Learn more about the report and take action at Lung.org/solc.