More women to require private medical cover treatment for lung cancer?

A greater number of women could be requiring treatment for lung cancer through their private medical cover provider, new research has suggested.

According to a study published by the South West Public Health Observatory, while rates of lung cancer in men are falling, the disease is becoming increasingly prevalent in women.

Figures reveal that the number of women suffering from lung cancer in England increased by ten per cent between 1987 and 2006, rising from 32.3 cases per 100,000 to 35.4 per 100,000 over the 19-year period.

In comparison, among men, the rate of lung cancer fell from 70.4 per 100,000 in 2000 to 59.4 per 100,000 in 2007 in the UK.

The report points out that most of the campaigning to give up smoking during this time has been focussed on men.

Dr Paul Beckett, chair of the British Thoracic Society advisory group on lung cancer, said: "Lung cancer is one of the UK's biggest killers and we really need to focus on reducing rates across all groups in society.

"Clearly, targeting cigarette smoking is key to achieving this but it's also very important to catch the disease early. I'd urge anyone who is worried about symptoms such as cough and breathlessness to visit their GP and to consider getting a chest x-ray."

It follows a recent report from the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, which claimed NHS services for treating lung cancer remain "insufficient" with wide variations in quality and outcomes in different parts of the country. 

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