Tobacco Still Top Cancer Killer, Despite Falling Smoking Rates

Key Takeaways

Tobacco remains the leading preventable cause of cancer death in the United States

That’s despite smoking rates falling dramatically over the past 60 years

Most smokers aren’t getting screened for lung cancer

TUESDAY, Nov. 4, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Tobacco remains the leading preventable cause of cancer death in the U.S., despite a dramatic decline in smoking, a new American Cancer Society report says.

More than 80% of lung cancer deaths are linked to tobacco, according to data from the inaugural release of the American Heart Association’s U.S. Tobacco Atlas .

That’s even though cigarette smoking among adults cratered from 42% in 1965 to just 11% in 2023, researchers said.

Quit rates also have skyrocketed, with a record 62% of smokers trying to drop the habit