Lung cancer rates have more than doubled for women over 60 since the mid 1970’s according to Cancer Research UK.
Cancer Research figures show that in 1975, 88 per 100,000 was diagnosed with lung cancer, compared to 190 per 100,000 people in 2008, which is the latest year for which statistics are currently available.
Since 1975 lung cancer rates in men have fallen, and Cancer Research UK state this follows a similar pattern and link with male smoking rates, which have also decreased since this period. Figures for men aged over 60 show that 23,400 were diagnosed with lung cancer in 1975 compared with 19,400 men in 2008. Smoking rates for males peaked before 1960, compared to rising rates in women in the 60’s and 70’s, which is now affecting lung cancer rates for those aged over 60.
In comparison to the male figures, 5,700 women over 60 were diagnosed with lung cancer in 1975 compared to 15,100 in 2008. According to Cancer Research UK lung cancer rates in women in their 60’s levelled and even started to fall in the late 1980’s but due to the increase in women smoking rates in the 1960’s and 70’s this meant figures started to rise again by 2002.
According to Jean King, Cancer Research UK’s Director of Tobacco Control, smoking causes around 90% of lung cancers and despite campaigns preventing smoking, 1 in 5 people still smoke.
Wednesday 9th March see the return of the successful annual health campaign ‘No Smoking Day’ for more information click here.
