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Lung cancer drops in British women

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Lung cancer deaths among British women under the age of 70 have reached their lowest level in 30 years. Researchers say this is due to the fact that fewer women are smoking.

In 2001, 4,550 women under the age of 70 died from lung cancer, the charity Cancer Research UK reported. This is down from a peak of nearly 6,000 in 1988.

“This fall is because more women are giving up smoking,” said Sir Richard Peto of Cancer Research UK.

“Half of the people who keep on smoking will eventually be killed by their habit but stopping smoking works surprisingly well,” Peto added. “Even after many years of smoking, those who stop before they have lung cancer or some other serious disease avoid most of their risk of being killed by tobacco.”

Reuters Health has reported that trends in lung cancer deaths tend to follow smoking rates by around 15 to 20 years.

Women’s smoking rates increased after World War II and peaked at about 45% in 1970. They have since declined to around 28%, although rates have plateaued in recent years.

Deaths among women over the age of 70 are still high, with 8,500 dying from lung cancer last year, compared to 6,300 in 1988. This is a result of the women’s smoking boom after World War II, the charity said.


Dr. Lesley Walker, Director of Science Information at Cancer Research UK said the under-70’s figures were very promising. “It suggests that over the next decade we will see lung cancer in women continue to decline.”

A similar decline in lung cancer deaths has already been seen in British men. Immediately after the war around 80% of men smoked, a rate that has steadily dropped to 30% now. Lung cancer death rates peaked for men in the 1960s.

Cancer Research UK is joining with other charities including Marie Curie Cancer Care, Quit, Action on Smoking and Health, and No Smoking Day to promote Lung Cancer Awareness Month, which runs throughout January in Britain.

Doreen McIntyre, Chief Executive of No Smoking Day, said of the latest figures: “This is graphic proof that stopping smoking really can be a life saver – what a great incentive for the millions of smokers who are planning to stop this No Smoking Day.”

(Source: ASCO)


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Dates

Posted On: 2 January, 2003
Modified On: 3 December, 2013

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