258 diagnosed per month: About 2,000 Israelis expected to die from lung cancer by the end of the year
The Israel Cancer Association publishes data for International Lung Cancer Awareness Day: By the end of 2026, about 3,100 new cases and about 2,000 deaths are expected. Israel's smoking rate is 30% higher than the global average.
To mark International Lung Cancer Awareness Day, the Israel Cancer Association has released alarming data: by the end of 2026, about 3,100 new cases of lung cancer are expected to be diagnosed in Israel, about 258 per month, and about 2,000 people are expected to die from the disease this year. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Israel. The smoking rate in Israel stands at 24% of the population, about 30% higher than the global average. Projections from the International Agency for Research on Cancer indicate that by 2050, about 5,230 Israelis will be diagnosed annually and 3,650 will die. The association emphasizes the importance of early detection and recommends that current and former smokers undergo low-dose CT scans. A study in England found that 76% of lung cancer cases diagnosed through a national screening program were detected at early stages. The data also show that 15% of the population uses e-cigarettes, with 24% among those aged 16-24, and the rate of hookah smokers rose from 11% to 15% in the past year.