94p.c. of new cancer sufferers smoke

Press, 3 August 1985, Page 13

94p.c. of new cancer sufferers smoke

PA Wellington Ninety-four per cent of all new lung cancer sufferers were regular smokers, according to the Health Department. The chief health statistician, Mr John Findlay, said the latest statistics available showed that in 1980, 94 per cent of all new lung cancer cases diagnosed were regular, or formerly regular, cigarette smokers. He said about' 1150 New Zealanders die from lung cancer every year while about 1300 new ■ cases were diagnosed annually. Lung cancer was the main cause of cancer death in men and would probably, be the main cause of cancer death in women by the year 2000. f Breast cancer was the present leading cause of cancer deaths an New Zealand women. 4

Mr Findlay said smoking was considered to be one of the main contributors to illhealth in New Zealand today “and the most visible end-result of smoking is lung cancer.” Smoking was a serious health threat and Health Department figures showed 3600 deaths a year were attributable to smoking. Mr Findlay said in view of this he found the fact that information about smoking was not being included in the 1986 census “very disappointing.” “The census has in the past proved a most valuable source of information about changes to smoking habits over time,” he said.

The deputy chief health

statistician, Mr Jim Fraser, said the National Health Statistics Centre had been collecting information on smoking and lung cancer deaths since 1978. The information had been the same every year, with' between 93 and 95 per cent of all new lung cancer cases being regular or formerly' regular smokers, Mr Fraser said. “I would not expect that to change,” he said. Although a small percentage of that 94 per cent would have had lung cancer whether or not they smoked, overseas research showed that about 85 per cent of lung cancer cases were actually caused by cigarette smoking.