Lung cancer is now the biggest cancer killer of women in Tasmania, overtaking bowel and breast cancer, according to new statistics from the Tasmanian Cancer Registry.

Lung cancer is now the biggest cancer killer of women in Tasmania, overtaking bowel and breast cancer, according to new statistics from the Tasmanian Cancer Registry.

Registry Director Associate Professor Alison Venn says that these statistics, published in the recent Cancer in Tasmania: Incidence and Mortality 2003 report, confirm figures from 2002 that showed an increase in smoking-related cancers in Tasmanian women.

"We have known that lung cancer has consistently been the number one cancer killer in Tasmanian men for decades, ahead of bowel and prostate cancer," Associate Professor Venn said.

"An increased uptake of smoking by women in the 1960s and 70s means that we are now beginning to see a similar effect in the number of female deaths from lung cancer.

"Women in Tasmania are paying a terrible price for their smoking behaviour. Lung cancer is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to preventable health problems linked to smoking," she said.

One hundred and twenty-eight men and 85 women died of lung cancer in 2003.

Biostatistician Dr Leigh Blizzard said despite the already well-publicised hazards of smoking, a relatively high proportion of Tasmanian women are smokers.

"Tasmania has the second highest prevalence of smoking among females, with only the Northern Territory having higher proportions of female smokers.

"Twenty-one per cent of Tasmanian women are regular smokers, compared to the national average of 16.3 per cent," he said.

"There seem to be two factors at play. Firstly, Tasmanian women are taking up smoking in proportions far above the national average. Seventeen per cent of the 14 to 19 year old females in our state are daily smokers, while the national average is 12 per cent," he said.

"Secondly, Tasmanian women who took up smoking in their teens are continuing to smoke into their 30s and 40s. The prevalence of smoking among Tasmanian women aged 40 to 49 years is 28.3 per cent, which is again higher than the Australian average of 20.1 per cent."

Dr Blizzard said there is support available for smokers who wish to quit.

"For information and support to quit smoking, phone QUIT Tasmania on 137 848," he said.

Contact:

Phone:

Email: