New research by the American Cancer Society reveals that from 1970 to 2022, over 3.8 million lung cancer deaths were averted in the U.S. due to reduced smoking prevalence resulting from tobacco control initiatives.

The study found that these efforts led to 3,856,240 averted lung cancer deaths, including 2,246,610 in men and 1,609,630 in women.

During this period, approximately 76 million years of life were gained, underscoring the significant impact of tobacco control on public health.

On average, each averted lung cancer death corresponded to an increase of 19.8 additional years of life gained, with women experiencing a higher average of 22.4 years compared to 17.9 years for men.

The study also highlighted racial disparities, noting that 53.6% of averted deaths were among whites, while 40.0% were among Black individuals, indicating unequal smoking-related health outcomes.

The research utilized data from the National Center for Health Statistics, calculating averted deaths by comparing actual mortality rates to expected rates based on demographics.

Despite these successes in reducing lung cancer deaths, Dr. Farhad Islami, the study's lead author, emphasized that lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S.

Dr. Islami called for stronger commitments to tobacco control at various government levels to further reduce smoking rates and save more lives, particularly among high-risk groups.

The study advocates for barrier-free cessation services, higher tobacco taxes, and comprehensive smoke-free policies as effective strategies to prevent smoking initiation and support quitting efforts.

Lisa A. Lacasse, president of the ACS's advocacy affiliate, stressed the need for increased funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs to combat tobacco use and reduce the cancer burden.