For the first time, lung cancer has passed breast cancer as the leading cause of cancer deaths for women in rich countries. The reason is smoking, which peaked years later for women than it did for men. "We're seeing the deaths now" from lung cancer due to a rise in smoking by women three decades ago, says Lindsey Torre of the American Cancer Society. The society released a report today, based on new numbers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Highlights:
- Globally: There were 14 million new cancer cases and 8 million cancer deaths in 2012, the most recent year available. "Developing countries account for 57% of cancer cases and 65% of cancer deaths," Torre said.