Incidence of cancer increasing among women

Ireland could become the only country in Europe where lung cancer is more common in women than in men, a leading cancer specialist warned today.

Smoking is becoming increasingly popular among women in the Republic, leading to more and more cases of the disease.

Dr Harry Comber, director of the National Cancer Registry, said a worrying social trend was emerging.

He said: “Unfortunately, lung cancer is still increasing in women. This is an unfortunate phenomenon of the past few years.

“Women are smoking more and more. Lung cancer is increasing by about three per cent a year in women at the moment while it’s falling by more than that in men.

“We have suggested that over the next 10 years or so that lung cancer will actually become more common in women than in men, which is a very worrying social phenomenon.

“Ireland would be the only country in Europe in which that was the case.”

Dr Comber said that awareness of the risks posed by smoking was still not as widespread as it should be.

The dangers of smoking – particularly passive smoking – have been the topic of major debate in Ireland recently, as the country prepares for a blanket ban on smoking in workplaces.

The law, set to be enforced in January 2004, will cover all places of work including pubs, restaurants and hotels.

Figures published today by the National Cancer Registry revealed that a sixth of the total number of cancer deaths were caused by lung cancer.

While the overall number of cancer cases in Ireland continued to increase, deaths from the disease rose at a much slower rate – suggesting an improved survival rate.

Cancers such as prostate cancer, breast cancer and melanoma were becoming more common.

Dr Comber said increased screening and better awareness of these diseases may have contributed to the higher detection rate.

He added: “We have a long way to go, particularly with regard to things like lung cancer in women.

“Overall we are fairly average in terms of cancer mortality.”

The figures were compiled by looking at cancer rates from 1994 to 2002.