Illinois
Requires Coverage of Comprehensive Biomarker Testing
Yes
Highlighted Disparity
Asian or Pacific Islander individuals in Illinois are least likely to be diagnosed early
Lung Cancer Rates
New Cases:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases in Illinois is 58.1 and significantly higher than the national rate of 52.8.
- Illinois ranks 35th among all states, placing it in the average tier.
- Over the last five years, the rate of new cases in Illinois improved by 12%.
- 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, and should not be interpreted as a reduction in the underlying cancer burden.
5-Year Survival Rate:
- The percent of people alive five years after being diagnosed with lung cancer in Illinois is 30.5%, which is significantly higher than the national rate of 29.7%.
- It ranks 17th among the 39 states with survival data, placing it in the average tier.
- Over the last five years, the survival rate in Illinois improved by 25%.
Early Diagnosis:
- In Illinois, 29.1% of cases are caught at an early stage, which is significantly higher than the national rate of 28.1%.
- It ranks 21st among the 50 states with data on diagnosis at an early stage, placing it in the average tier.
- Over the last five years, the early diagnosis rate in Illinois improved by 12%.
Lung Cancer Treatment
Biomarker Coverage:
- Illinois was one of the 17 states that required insurance coverage of comprehensive biomarker testing, including for lung cancer, as of August 2025.
Surgical Treatment:
- Illinois ranked 16th (out of the 49 states with available data) with 21.3% 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 Illinois in the average tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases undergoing surgery in Illinois improved by 8%.
No Treatment:
- Illinois ranked 15th (out of the 49 states with available data) with 18.0% of cases not receiving any treatment.
- This is significantly lower than the national rate of 21.0% and puts Illinois in the above average tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases receiving no treatment in Illinois did not change significantly.
Screening
Screening for High Risk:
- In Illinois, 19.3% of those at high risk were screened, which was not significantly different than the national rate of 18.2%.
- It ranks 19th among all states, placing it in the average tier.
Prevention
Tobacco Use:
- The 2023 smoking rate in Illinois is 10.8% and not significantly different than the national rate of 11.4%.
- It ranks 18th among all states, placing it in the average tier.
Radon:
- In Illinois, 33.5% of radon tests results were at or above the action level recommended by EPA.
- It ranks 34th among all states, placing it in the below average tier.
Racial & Ethnic Disparities
Black individuals:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 66.4 per 100,000 population among Black individuals in Illinois, significantly higher than the rate of 54.2 among Black individuals nationally, and significantly higher than the rate of 62.6 among white individuals in Illinois.
- The five-year survival rate is 28.9% among Black individuals in Illinois, not significantly different than the rate of 27.1% among Black individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 30.4% among white individuals in Illinois.
- 26.3% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Black individuals in Illinois, not significantly different than the rate of 25.1% among Black individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 30.0% among white individuals in Illinois.
- 18.2% of Black individuals with lung cancer in Illinois underwent surgery, significantly higher than the rate of 17.1% among Black individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 21.6% among white individuals in Illinois.
- 19.9% of Black individuals with lung cancer in Illinois did not receive any treatment, significantly lower than the rate of 22.7% among Black individuals nationally, and significantly higher than the rate of 17.8% among white individuals in Illinois.
Latino individuals:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 25.8 per 100,000 population among Latino individuals in Illinois, significantly lower than the rate of 27.9 among Latino individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 62.6 among white individuals in Illinois.
- 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.
- 24.5% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Latino individuals in Illinois, not significantly different than the rate of 23.9% among Latino individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 30.0% among white individuals in Illinois.
- 24.0% of Latino individuals with lung cancer in Illinois underwent surgery, significantly higher than the rate of 21.4% among Latino individuals nationally, and significantly higher than the rate of 21.6% among white individuals in Illinois.
- 17.4% of Latino individuals with lung cancer in Illinois did not receive any treatment, significantly lower than the rate of 25.8% among Latino individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 17.8% among white individuals in Illinois.
Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 27.9 per 100,000 population among Asian or Pacific Islanders individuals in Illinois, significantly lower than the rate of 32.5 among Asian or Pacific Islanders individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 62.6 among white individuals in Illinois.
- 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.
- 19.2% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Asian or Pacific Islander individuals in Illinois, significantly lower than the rate of 23.7% among Asian or Pacific Islander individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 30.0% among white individuals in Illinois.
- 25.4% of Asian or Pacific Islander individuals with lung cancer in Illinois underwent surgery, not significantly different than the rate of 24.7% among Asian or Pacific Islander individuals nationally, and significantly higher than the rate of 21.6% among white individuals in Illinois.
- 13.3% of Asian or Pacific Islander individuals with lung cancer in Illinois did not receive any treatment, significantly lower than the rate of 19.8% among Asian or Pacific Islander individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 17.8% among white individuals in Illinois.
Indigenous Peoples:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 13.7 per 100,000 population among Indigenous peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) in Illinois, significantly lower than the rate of 39.8 among Indigenous Peoples nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 62.6 among white individuals in Illinois.
- State-level survival rates are not available for Indigenous Peoples at this time. Nationally, the five-year survival rate among Indigenous Peoples is 22.3% and not significantly different than the rate of 25.0% among white individuals.
- Other lung cancer rates are not available for Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) in Illinois due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Summary
Despite the early diagnosis rate in Illinois falling into the 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.
Illinois was one of the states that required insurance coverage of comprehensive biomarker testing, which can help determine what treatment options would be best for individuals with lung cancer and other diseases.
Illinois 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