Kentucky continues to face the nation’s highest rate of new lung cancer cases and one of the highest adult smoking rates, according to the American Lung Association’s newly released 2025 State of Lung Cancer report.
While the state ranks last for incidence and second only to West Virginia for adult smoking, the report also highlights meaningful gains in early detection, screening, and survival.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths both in Kentucky and across the nation. The new data show that Kentucky’s lung cancer incidence rate has improved by 9% in the past five years, while the five-year survival rate rose by 32%, and early diagnosis improved by 12%.
“In the past five years and nationwide, we have seen significant progress, including improvement in survival and early detection rates. This means that more people in our state are living longer after a lung cancer diagnosis,” said Shannon Baker, director of advocacy for the American Lung Association. “While this progress gives us hope, our state continues to face some of the nation’s most severe lung cancer challenges. We’re encouraged by above-average screening rates, reductions in new case rates, and the passage of biomarker testing coverage legislation. These gains show that with sustained effort, more Kentuckians’ lives can be saved.”
The Lung Association’s eighth annual report highlights how the toll of lung cancer varies by state and examines key indicators such as new cases, survival, early diagnosis, surgical treatment, lack of treatment, screening rates and insurance coverage of comprehensive biomarker testing.
Kentucky ranks:
- 51 out of 51 for new lung cancer cases, at 84.1 per 100,000, a 9% improvement over five years. The national rate is 52.8 per 100,000.
- 32 out of 39 for survival, at 25.51%, a 32% improvement. Nationally, the five-year survival rate is 29.7%.
- 33 out of 50 for early diagnosis, at 27.3%, a 12% improvement. Nationally, 28.1% of cases are diagnosed early.
- 12 out of 51 for lung cancer screening, at 21.4%, compared to 18.2% nationally.
- 26 out of 49 for surgery as first course of treatment, at 19.4%, compared to 20.7% nationally.
- 26 out of 49 for lack of treatment, at 20.4%, with a 36% increase over the past five years. Nationally, 21% receive no treatment.
- 50 out of 51 for smoking, with 17.4% of adults who currently smoke, compared to the national rate of 11.4%.
- 38 out of 51 for radon test results, with a relatively high 36.9% equal to or worse than the EPA recommended action level.
The report also finds that Latino Americans are 34% less likely to be diagnosed early (18.2%) compared to white individuals at 27.5%.
“In my ongoing commitment to addressing the burden of lung cancer in Kentucky through proven policies, this year I am sponsoring a budget request to increase funding for the state tobacco prevention and cessation program to $4M. It is a reasonable increase of $2M over current funding, and preventing kids from ever starting and helping those who want to quit using nicotine products should be a priority in our budget discussions this year,” said House Health Services Chair Kimberly Poore Moser.
The American Lung Association joins Moser, who also sponsored bills establishing the state lung cancer screening program and biomarker testing coverage, in calling on Kentucky lawmakers to increase funding for the state tobacco prevention and cessation program.
For more information about the report and to take action, visit Lung.org/solc.
The Lung Association’s Fight For Air Climb in Louisville is scheduled for March 29, 2026. Learn more at FightForAirClimb.org/louisville.
This article appears in Nov. 1-30, 2025.