Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSSmoking ban could lead to 20% drop in lung cancer rates
Health experts have predicted that the proportion of people developing lung cancer will drop by a fifth in the next 20 years as a result of the smoking ban.
According to a report for Cancer Research UK, rates of lung cancer in the UK will fall from 50 per 100,000 people to 40 per 100,000 by 2024.
However, the report warns that because people are living longer, the number of older people diagnosed with the disease could increase from around 38,500 to more than 41,600 by 2024 due to the delay between smoking and onset of the disease.
Research has found that 90% of lung cancer cases are a result of smoking and men are more likely to suffer than women due to the fact they have been more likely to smoke.
Professor Max Parkin, co-author of the report, said: ‘These predictions are based on what we know to date about the current figures and trends for lung cancer.
‘Lung cancer is unique in that we can track the reduction in cases with a reduction in the number of people exposed to a specific product - cigarette smoke.’
Related article: Report shows benefits of smoking ban
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