While the rate of lung cancer in Britain halved in the past 40 years, statistics show death rates from the disease in Northern Ireland are rising.
Almost five times more women are succumbing to lung cancer than 40 years ago. The death rate in 1961 was seven per 100,000; the figure now is 34 per 100,000.
Dr Anna Gavin, director of the NI Cancer Registry, said the trend reflected an increased rate of smoking in women and indicated a significant health hazard for the future. She said lung cancer deaths in younger women were going up, while corresponding statistics for men showed a decrease.
