Minnesota Lung Cancer Screening: Data, Disparities, and Social Determinants

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On this page: 
Early detection and treatment
New cancers (incidence)
Deaths (mortality)
Survival
Census tract level
Social determinants of health
Resources

The primary goal of lung cancer screening is early detection and timely treatment. Early-stage lung cancers are typically smaller and less likely to have spread beyond the lung, leading to better outcomes. In Minnesota, the five-year survival rate for lung cancers diagnosed at the site in the body where they started (local stage) is 68% compared to just 21% for cancers that have spread to distant sites in the body (distant stage). 

While early diagnosis and treatment are important, other factors contribute to health disparities and inequities in lung cancer outcomes. Social determinants of health such as access to transportation, health insurance coverage, and the cost of health care can create significant barriers to lung cancer screening and treatment for certain populations.

Addressing these social determinants of health is essential for developing lung cancer screening programs, interventions, and policies that target populations most in need of improved outcomes. This interactive dashboard presents Minnesota screening data that showcases how selected social determinants of health impact both measures of lung cancer burden (incidence and mortality) and lung cancer screening rates. This tool is designed to support program planning, decision making, and resource allocation. The resource section at the end of this page includes links to additional data sources, as well as background information on social determinants of health.

How to use these data

This dashboard allows you to view different data indicators. Visit MCRS: Cancer Technical Notes to learn more about data definitions and how to interpret the data.  Specific instructions on how to interpret each chart are included below. 

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Rates of new lung cancers (incidence) | Minnesota 2018-2022

By poverty indicator, race, region, and stage at diagnosis

The chart below provides new lung cancer incidence rates overall and by early or late stage at diagnosis. Rates can be broken down by poverty level and demographic characteristics including race and State Community Health Services Advisory Committee regions (SCHSAC regions). 

Start by selecting a demographic indicator then select a cancer stage to generate a chart of incidence rates for your selection.

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Rates of lung cancers deaths (mortality) | Minnesota 2018-2022

By race and region

The chart below provides rates of lung cancer mortality by demographic characteristics including race and SCHSAC region. Select race or SCHSAC region to generate a chart of mortality rates for your selection.

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Survival data

Five-year survival rates for lung cancer

Survival is much higher when diagnosed early.

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Rates of lung cancer (incidence) by census tracts, poverty indicator, and region | Minnesota 2013-2022

The map below provides census tract level lung cancer incidence by poverty level and region (SCHSAC region and county). 

Start by selecting a map region, then select a poverty level to generate a map showing census tract level incidence rates for your selection. Click on the map to filter the table or on the table to filter the map. 

Click on the button at the bottom of the map to toggle between County and SCHSAC level maps

Map controls

	Map (below) navigation (hover in left upper corner for options)-Home button (full state map), triangle (open map options), magnifier (select and zoom in), cross (click and pan)
	Layer control (hover in left upper corner for options). Check/uncheck boxes to toggle layers on/off

Map data table for download

The table below provides census tract level lung cancer incidence by poverty level and region (SCHSAC region and county) for download. 

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Lung cancer screening rates by social determinants of health | Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) 2022

The chart below provides lung cancer screening rates by social determinants of health. Select a category and a BRFSS question to generate a chart showing lung cancer screening rates by the BRFSS question you selected. Note that chart may be blank until category and variable are selected.

Screening guidelines are based on a person's age, smoking history, and current smoking status.

The overall percentage of eligible Minnesotans that have had lung cancer screening is 10%. 

The percentages on the charts are the percent of eligible people who had lung cancer screening performed. For example, interpreting the numbers in the charts for Marital status, we would conclude that: Among eligible people that answered "Divorced" to the question about their "MARITAL STATUS", 17% reported having a a CT for lung cancer screening. 

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Other sources of cancer statistics and additional resources

For reports on cancer in Minnesota, visit MCRS Cancer Statistics and Reports.

For cancer statistics in the US, including Minnesota visit:

• National Cancer Institute-Cancer Statistics
• National Cancer Institute-State Cancer Profiles
• National Program of Cancer Registries
• Centers for Disease and Prevention online database-CDC WONDER
• United States Cancer Statistics: Data Visualizations
• Regional Profiles - MN Department of Health
• State Health Compare
• MN Community Measures

Resources for quitting tobacco:

• MDH Get Help Quitting
• MDH Commercial Tobacco Use and Prevention
• MDH-Quit Partner
• American Indian Commercial Tobacco Program

For more information on social determinants of health and cancer disparities: 

• Healthy People 2030 - Social Determinants of Health
• Cancer Disparities - National Cancer Institute
• Lung Cancer Early Detection and Diagnosis - American Cancer Society

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