[Lung cancer in Spain. Current epidemiology, survival, and treatment]

In 2005, 19 115 people died of lung cancer in Spain. In spite of the increase since 1950 in absolute mortality rates, the adjusted rate for men has declined. The incidence among women is lower in Spain than in other countries but it has increased (with a ratio of 1 woman for every 8.5 men). More than 50% of the patients are over 70 years of age. While the proportion of adenocarcinomas relative to other histological types has increased worldwide, squamous cell carcinoma still predominates in Spain (ranging from 24%-50.5%). The number of patients treated by surgical resection has not increased (14.8% in Spain in 2003). Operative mortality is 6.8%. Between 25% and 50% of patients receive only palliative medication. Absolute overall survival in patients with lung cancer is under 10% in many countries. The 5-year survival rate among patients treated surgically has increased slightly, with stage IA rates ranging from 58.3% to 68.5% and stage IIIA from 28.3% to 35.8%.