WBR0498

Author	[[PageAuthor::Yazan Daaboul, M.D. (Reviewed by Serge Korjian)]]
Exam Type	ExamType::USMLE Step 1
Main Category	MainCategory::Biostatistics/Epidemiology
Sub Category	SubCategory::Pulmonology, SubCategory::General Principles
Prompt	[[Prompt::An epidemiologist is studying the prevalence and mortality of cancer among American patients older than 40 years of age. After collecting his data, he adjusts his mortality estimates for gender and age at diagnosis. Assuming his sample is representative of the general population, which of the following cancers would be responsible for the most deaths per year?]]
Answer A	AnswerA::Breast cancer
Answer A Explanation	AnswerAExp::Although breast cancer is the most common cancer in females, it is not the most common fatal cancer. It is in fact the 2nd most common fatal cancer among females.
Answer B	AnswerB::Colorectal cancer
Answer B Explanation	AnswerBExp::Colorectal cancer is the 3rd most common cancer and the 3rd most common fatal cancer in both males and females.
Answer C	AnswerC::Gastric cancer
Answer C Explanation	AnswerCExp::Gastric cancer is not the most common fatal cancer in older patients.
Answer D	AnswerD::Lung cancer
Answer D Explanation	AnswerDExp::Lung cancer is the most common fatal cancers in both males and females.
Answer E	AnswerE::Lymphoma
Answer E Explanation	AnswerEExp::Lymphoma is not the most common fatal cancer in older patients.
Right Answer	RightAnswer::D
Explanation	[[Explanation:: The 3 most common cancers in males are as follows in decreasing prevalence: Prostate (most common), then lung, then colorectal. On the other hand, the 3 most common cancers in females are breast (most common), then lung, then colorectal. Nonetheless, prostate cancer in males and breast cancer in females are not the most common fatal cancers. The most common fatal cancer in both genders is lung cancer. Educational Objective: The most common fatal cancer in men and women is lung cancer. References: U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. United States Cancer Statistics: 1999–2011 Incidence and Mortality Web-based Report. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Cancer Institute; 2014. Available at: www.cdc.gov/uscs.]]
Approved	Approved::Yes
Keyword	WBRKeyword::Lung cancer, WBRKeyword::Incidence, WBRKeyword::Prevalence, WBRKeyword::Cancer, WBRKeyword::Fatal, WBRKeyword::Mortality, WBRKeyword::Death, WBRKeyword::Breast cancer, WBRKeyword::Colorectal cancer, WBRKeyword::Women
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