A drop in smoking in Europe and better screening mean fewer people are dying of cancer, but lung cancer deaths in women are rising in places like Scotland and Hungary  where more women smoke, doctors said on Monday.
 
As per the study in the Annals of Oncology cancer journal deaths caused due to cervical cancer and breast cancer have been reduced tremendously by early diagnosis and better treatments. Another factor which contributed in reducing deaths from lung and other tobacco-related cancers in men is the declining smoking level.
 
Overall European cancer deaths fell by nine percent in men and eight percent in women in the second period from the first according to a study of data from 1990-1994 and 2000-2004.
 
Nevertheless, researchers said that there were lots of disparities in cancer death rates between different EU countries and added that some countries where alcohol and tobacco consumption has increased had seen a rise in deaths from lung, mouth, pharynx and oesophagus cancers.
 
Cristina Bosetti, head of the cancer unit at Italy’s Mario Negri department of epidemiology wrote in the study, "Further reduction of tobacco smoking remains the key priority for cancer control in Europe."