CDC: Lung cancer rates drop, especially among men

Health officials are reporting a drop in the rate of new lung cancer cases.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says lung cancer incidence rates declined nearly 3 percent per year among men and about 1 percent per year among women from 2005 to 2009.

The biggest decline was in the 35-to-44-year-old age group, where rates fell about 6 percent per year for both sexes combined.

Officials credited tobacco control efforts. Smoking rates have been steadily declining for years, and the most recent figures suggest that about 18 percent of adults smoke.

Lung cancer remains the top cancer killer in the U.S. and worldwide. This week marks the 50th anniversary of the first Surgeon General's report tying cigarette smoking to lung cancer.