According to new figures, years later the high rates of smoking among women in the ‘Mad Men’ era of the 1960s is showing after effects.

In 2009 the number of women who were diagnosed with lung cancer was 18,000, according to statistics released by Cancer Research UK.

In 1975 about 22 women out of 100,000 people were affected by the disease but now out of 100,000 women about 39 people are affected.

When it comes to high smoking rates and a rise in cancer cases, there exists a time lag of about 20 to 30 years.

The percentage of women who smoked in the 1960s was over 45 per cent and present figures show that only 20 per cent of women smoke.

When it comes to men, there is a decrease in lung cancer.

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.”

Breast cancer has been stated to be the most common form of cancer in women, as stated by the Cancer Research UK figures.