50% Rise In Lung Cancer Cases Among Women - Report

There has been a 50% increase in lung cancer cases among women in last decade in Northern Ireland, according to a new report.

The Queen's University research revealed a 37% increase in the number of lung cancer cases diagnosed since 2006. The increase in cases of lung cancer in women was more than four times higher than the increase in men over the last 10 years.

Dr Anna Gavin, Director of the NI Cancer Registry at Queen's University Belfast said: "Lung cancer is a devastating disease with poor overall survival and the number of lung cancer cases continues to increase in Northern Ireland. The surge in cases can be attributed to risk factors especially historic tobacco use but also the ageing population. The proportion of patients over 80 increased from 12% in 2006 to 17% in this study.

"Twice as many men than women had lung cancer in 1996 but fast-forward twenty years and a similar number of men and women are being diagnosed. This is due to more men giving up smoking while conversely, more women are taking up smoking, the major cause of lung cancer."

Lung cancer is the most common cancer in the developed world and also the most frequent cause of cancer mortality worldwide.

Early diagnosis can increase chances of survival. Symptoms include a persistent cough, a sudden change in a cough that you have had for a long time, unexplained weight loss, breathlessness and chest pain.

(CD/LM)