Delaware
Requires Coverage of Comprehensive Biomarker Testing
No
Highlighted Disparity
Black individuals in Delaware are most likely to receive no treatment
Lung Cancer Rates
New Cases:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases in Delaware is 56.4 and significantly higher than the national rate of 52.8.
- Delaware ranks 31st among all states, placing it in the average tier.
- Over the last five years, the rate of new cases in Delaware did not change significantly.
- In 2022, the most recent year of data available for this report, the COVID-19 pandemic continued to disrupt access to medical care, including delays and reductions in cancer diagnoses and screening. This led to a decline in incidence rates for most cancers, including lung cancer, an
5-Year Survival Rate:
- The percent of people alive five years after being diagnosed with lung cancer (the survival rate) in Delaware is 30.6%, which is not significantly different than the national rate of 29.7%.
- It ranks 16th among the 39 states with survival data, placing it in the average tier.
- Over the last five years, the survival rate in Delaware improved by 28%.
Early Diagnosis:
- In Delaware, 30.0% of cases are caught at an early stage, which is significantly higher than the national rate of 28.1%.
- It ranks 14th among the 50 states with data on diagnosis at an early stage, placing it in the above average tier.
- Over the last five years, the early diagnosis rate in Delaware did not change significantly.
Lung Cancer Treatment
Surgical Treatment:
- Delaware ranked 8th (out of the 49 states with available data) with 23.7% of cases undergoing surgery as part of the first course of treatment.
- This is significantly higher than the national rate of 20.7% and puts Delaware in the above average tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases undergoing surgery in Delaware did not change significantly.
Biomarker Coverage:
- Delaware has yet to require any insurance coverage of comprehensive biomarker testing, including for lung cancer, as of August 2025.
No Treatment:
- Delaware ranked 22nd (out of the 49 states with available data) with 19.4% of cases not receiving any treatment.
- This is significantly lower than the national rate of 21.0% and puts Delaware in the above average tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases receiving no treatment in Delaware did not change significantly.
Screening
Screening for High Risk:
- In Delaware, 24.3% of those at high risk were screened, which was not significantly different than the national rate of 18.2%.
- It ranks 5th among all states, placing it in the above average tier.
Prevention
Tobacco Use:
- The 2023 smoking rate in Delaware is 11.4% and not significantly different than the national rate of 11.4%.
- It ranks 22nd among all states, placing it in the average tier.
Radon:
- In Delaware, 15.4% of radon test results were at or above the action level recommended by EPA.
- It ranks 17th among all states, placing it in the above average tier.
Racial & Ethnic Disparities
Black individuals:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 47.4 per 100,000 population among Black individuals in Delaware, significantly lower than the rate of 54.2 among Black individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 61.2 among white individuals in Delaware.
- The five-year survival rate is 24.9% among Black individuals in Delaware, not significantly different than the rate of 27.1% among Black individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 31.1% among white individuals in Delaware.
- 24.9% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Black individuals in Delaware, not significantly different than the rate of 25.1% among Black individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 30.8% among white individuals in Delaware.
- 20.3% of Black individuals with lung cancer in Delaware underwent surgery, not significantly different than the rate of 17.1% among Black individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 23.9% among white individuals in Delaware.
- 23.7% of Black individuals with lung cancer in Delaware did not receive any treatment, not significantly different than the rate of 22.7% among Black individuals nationally, and significantly higher than the rate of 18.8% among white individuals in Delaware.
Latino individuals:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 29.6 per 100,000 population among Latino individuals in Delaware, not significantly different than the rate of 27.9 among Latino individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 61.2 among white individuals in Delaware.
- State-level survival rates are not available for Latino individuals at this time. Nationally, the five-year survival rate among Latino individuals is 22.7%, not significantly different than the rate of 25.0% among white individuals.
- 33.3% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Latino individuals in Delaware, not significantly different than the rate of 23.9% among Latino individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 30.8% among white individuals in Delaware.
- Other lung cancer rates are not available for Latino individuals in Delaware due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 24.1 per 100,000 population among Asian or Pacific Islanders individuals in Delaware, significantly lower than the rate of 32.5 among Asian or Pacific Islanders individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 61.2 among white individuals in Delaware.
- State-level survival rates are not available for Asian or Pacific Islander individuals at this time. Nationally, the five-year survival rate among Asian or Pacific Islander individuals is 28.6% and significantly higher than the rate of 25.0% among white individuals.
- 42.0% of Asian or Pacific Islander individuals with lung cancer in Delaware underwent surgery, significantly higher than the rate of 24.7% among Asian or Pacific Islander individuals nationally, and significantly higher than the rate of 23.9% among white individuals in Delaware.
- Other lung cancer rates are not available for Asian or Pacific Islander individuals in Delaware due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Indigenous Peoples:
- Lung cancer rates are not available for Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) in Delaware due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Summary
Despite the early diagnosis rate in Delaware falling into the above average tier, the state still has a lot of work to do to make sure that more of those at high risk for lung cancer are screened.
Delaware has yet to require any insurance coverage of comprehensive biomarker testing, which can help determine what treatment options would be best for individuals with lung cancer and other diseases.
Delaware falls into the above average tier for percent of patients receiving no treatment. Some patients do refuse treatment, but issues such as fatalism and stigma can prevent eligible patients from accessing treatment that may save or extend their lives. All patients should work with their doctors to establish a treatment plan and goals.
Page last updated: October 1, 2025