Health experts have expressed concerns over the rising rate of lung cancer among women in the UK as the latest figures show that more than 18,000 women in the UK were diagnosed with the disease in 2009.

Cancer Research UK released data that shows that the disease now affects 39 in every 100,000 women as against 22 in every 100,000 in 1975. It was found that the high rate of smoking among women during 1960s is having a disastrous effect on their health after decades.

The charity found that high smoking rates resulted in rise in cancer cases after two decades. Data shows that more than 45 per cent of women were smokers in 1960 while the figure today stands at about 20 per cent.

On the other hand, the rates of lung cancer in men are falling. The smoking rates among men reached its highest at 65 per cent two decades earlier than in women and have fallen ever since to the current level of 22 per cent.

Jean King, director of tobacco control at Cancer Research UK said, "These latest figures highlight the deadly impact of tobacco. The continuing rise of lung cancer in women reflects the high number of female smokers several decades ago when attitudes were different."