Lung cancer
Last update
3435 nye tilfeller av lungekreft (lunge/luftrør) er registrert i 2024. Antallet innbyggere som lever med diagnosen lungekreft har tredoblet seg i løpet av de siste tjue årene.
About lung cancer
Lung cancer is primarily a result of current and previous years' smoking habits. The picture is still characterised by the fact that smoking was previously more common among men, and that many men started smoking at a young age. This difference in smoking habits is most evident in the oldest age groups, while the middle-aged have about the same proportion of smokers among men as among women.
The number of lung cancer cases is still high, although smoking is declining at the national level. In other words, there are still too many who keep up tobacco consumption and risk.
There is reason to believe that the number of lung cancer cases will decline in the future, but this will not happen without effort. In order for this to happen quickly, it is urgent to quit smoking for even more of those who have passed the age of 40, 50 and 60.
Key figures - lung cancer 2024
NB. Cancer of the trachea is included (few cases)
Number of new cases
Men: 1700
Women: 1735
Rates - number of cases per 100,000
Men: 54.6
Women: 50.2
5-year relative survival (2020-2024)
Men: 28.4%
Women: 35.8%
Cancer survivors - both sexes
12,118 individuals as of 31.12.2024
Deaths (2023)
Men: 1144
Women: 1000
Cumulative risk of developing lung cancer by age 80 (2020-2024)
Men: 5.2%
Women: 4.8%
Risk factors
8 out of 10 lung cancers are caused by tobacco use. Lung cancer is therefore one of the types of cancer that is easiest to prevent, namely by quitting smoking or by never starting to smoke at all.
Lung cancer is a disease that can develop over a long period of time, and primarily affects people who smoke, or have smoked previously. It is therefore expected that the number of lung cancer cases will remain high for a long period to come, despite the fact that more and more, especially in the younger part of the population, have chosen to be smoke-free or have stopped smoking.
In geographical areas where the number of smokers is lowest, such as Oslo, one can already see a decline in the number of cancer cases compared to areas with relatively more smokers.
According to the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency, a small number of cases of lung cancer, about 12 percent, can probably be attributed to exposure to radioactive radon gas in the bedrock in several areas of Norway, and it is suggested that this figure is around 370 cases annually.
The risk of lung cancer is particularly high for smokers who are also exposed to radon gas, both because the factors work in their own way, and because the gas connects to particles in the tobacco smoke.
Read the research article Lung cancer incidence associated with radon exposure in Norwegian homes (2017).
Substances such as asbestos are considered risk factors for the development of lung cancer, and especially for those who also smoke. Other risk factors are nickel and chromium exposure, air pollution including diesel exhaust, and passive smoking.
At national level, however, radon and asbestos are considered to be the most important additional burdens on the development of lung cancer, in addition to smoking.
Questions about cancer
The Cancer Registry of Norway is a research institution. Our professionals therefore do not answer questions about diagnosis, assessment, treatment and follow-up from patients or their relatives.
Inquiries about this information should be directed to your general practitioner, treating institution, or the Norwegian Cancer Society's advisory service at phone: +47 21 49 49 21.