| Popis: |
Lung cancer is the commonest cause of fatal malignancy worldwide, with over 900 000 deaths per year (1). The incidence is increasing in developing countries, where the rate was once relatively low. In eastern Asia and China, where the control of tobacco advertising and general public awareness is minimal, the mortality rates are higher than the world average. In developed countries the incidence among women has been rising steadily, matching the increased smoking habits of women since the 1950s (2,3). Smoking causes 85–90% of all lung cancers and it is only in countries with high profile anti-smoking lobbies where the incidence is decreasing. In America there has been a fall in the number of smokers, with a subsequent fall in the incidence of lung cancer in men every year for the last 5 years. The incidence among women, however, only began to plateau in the mid 1990s, which is a 10 year lag behind lung cancer rates in men and reflects smoking habits among American women (4). |
