New figures released by the charity - Cancer Research U.K., indicate the contrasting trends in smoking between men and women have caused a sharp increase in lung cancer cases among women. The actual figures show a 73% rise for women, and a 47% decrease among men since 1975 (men who smoke have been on the decline since the 1950s [women who smoke did not start to drop until the 1970s]).
Other startling figures released were as follows:
- U.K. lung cancer rates have fallen (overall) by 20% since 1975.
- 2011 annual figures were around 43,500 cases (23,800 men, and 19,700 women).
- 35,200 moralities (19,600 men, and 15,600 women [same 2011 period]).
- Women - 41 in every 100,000 suffer from lung cancer (up from 23 in every 100,000 in 1975).
- Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the U.K. (breast cancer being in the number-1 spot).
- Lung cancer in now the number-1 cancer killer in the U.K., which kills 50% more sufferers than the second most diagnosed cancer - bowel cancer.
- 87% of all cases diagnosed can be attributed to smoking.
- Less than 90% of sufferers will be alive 5-years after diagnosis.
- The north of the U.K. tends to suffer from the highest rate of diagnosed cases, whereas the lowest rates are to be found in the east, south-east, and the south-west of the country.
- In Scotland, diagnosed cases among women have almost doubled during the past 40 years.
Conclusion: Lung cancer still remains to be one of the biggest challenges of the 21st Century - with the lack of awareness (or understanding) to the damages that smoking can do to an individual, and the economic/social problems that many individuals in the U.K. suffer - still considered to be the two main reasons behind this new increase in cancer related disease.
These newly released figures can only be a stark reminder as to the problems that still exist, and the up-hill battle that still remains in combating the disease. Smoking still remains to be the No.1 self-inflicted DEATH SENTENCE in the U.K., and the world as a whole.
Source by Philip A Edmonds-Hunt
