|
|
The UK death rate is also four times that of Portugal and France, and twice that of Austria, Belgium, Finland, Greece, Italy, Germany and Sweden.
Only Danish women are more likely to die of the disease.
UK women are more prone to develop lung cancer because they started smoking longer ago, in the 1940s and 1950s.
![[ image: width=150]](/olmedia/440000/images/_444335_girlsmoker_150.jpg)
Professor McVie, director general of the Cancer Research Campaign, said: "The epidemic of lung cancer deaths has already hit the UK, but I am frightened that the number of women dying from the disease elsewhere in Europe has yet to peak."
He said that smoking rates among southern European women had increased dramatically since the 1970s, when they were still predominantly housewives and mothers.
The proportion of women smoking in Spain, for example, increased from 17% in 1978 to 27% in 1995.
Girl smokers rising
However charity's researchers found that smoking rates among women of all ages in the UK were going down - dropping from 41% in 1974 to 28% in 1996.
But Professor McVie warned there could be a further epidemic of lung cancer in the UK.
"Although the number of women of all ages who smoke is levelling off, the number of young women and girls taking up the habit is rising. So unless something is done quickly, we may face another glut of deaths in our own country."
The professor is to highlight the issue at the Ecco 10 European cancer conference in Vienna.
Background Briefings
Medical notes
Breast cancer tests 'flawed'
(10 Sep 99 | Health)
£10m to cut cancer waits
(06 Sep 99 | Health)
Cancer deaths fall in Europe
(27 Aug 99 | Health)
Smokers the focus of cancer message
(06 Jul 99 | Health)
Cancer Research Campaign
Imperial Cancer Research Fund
European Lung Cancer Working Party
Lung Cancer Awareness Campaign
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Links to other Health stories