Cancer is rising six times faster in women than men due to bad lifestyle choices - as more smoke and drink than ever before

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Unhealthy lifestyles are driving up cancer rates six times faster in women than in men, experts warned last night.

Obesity, smoking and drinking have been highlighted as major causes.

Such factors are now set to send cases of breast, ovarian, liver and lung cancer soaring over the next 20 years. 

New analysis by Cancer Research UK estimates incidences of the disease will rise 3.2 per cent for women until 2035, compared to just 0.5 per cent for men. In the past cancer was much more likely to afflict men.

But the gender gap is beginning to close, with projections showing 4.5million women and 4.8million men diagnosed with the disease between 2014 and 2035.

New analysis by Cancer Research UK estimates incidences of the disease will rise 3.2 per cent for women until 2035, compared to just 0.5 per cent for men. In the past cancer was much more likely to afflict men (file photo)

One reason is that many more women smoke and drink than before, increasing the risk of lung, liver and mouth cancer.

But the blame is also pinned on soaring rates of obesity, which are more closely linked to female cancers. 

The risk of breast, womb and ovarian cancer rise among overweight women, which is thought to be because excess fat affects sex hormones such as oestrogen, which drive tumour growth.

Some 67 per cent of men and 57 per cent of women in the UK are overweight or obese.

However, cancers that only affect men, such as prostate and testicular, are not thought to be influenced by excess body fat.

The findings, published in the British Journal of Cancer, estimate breast cancer cases will rise 30 per cent from 54,000 in 2014 to 71,000 in 2035.

The number of annual ovarian cases will jump 43 per cent to 10,500 a year, and womb cancer will increase 24 per cent to 11,500 cases a year.

Cases of female thyroid cancer, which is also closely linked to obesity, will nearly double to 4,800 a year. Lung cancer in women is forecast to rise by 38 per cent to 30,000 cases a year, and liver cancer by 78 per cent to 3,400 a year.

One reason is that many more women smoke and drink than before, increasing the risk of lung, liver and mouth cancer (file photo) 

Cervical cancer is also predicted to soar, although experts hope the recently-introduced HPV vaccine for schoolgirls will reverse the trend.

Study leader Dr Rebecca Smittenaar said: 'With obesity rates increasing in recent years we are really starting to see these cancers increasing among women. Obesity is linked to breast cancer, womb cancer and ovarian cancer.'

Although overall smoking rates are falling across the UK, historically women took up the habit in large numbers after it was already popular among men. 

Dr Smittenaar added: 'We haven't yet seen the peak in lung cancer cases among women, where it is already declining among men. Women who started to smoke in the 50s, 60s and 70s are now being diagnosed with lung cancer.' 

Experts last night called for women to take note of the findings and change their lifestyles to reduce the risk.

Dr Richard Berks, of Breast Cancer Now, said the disease 'is already a public health problem now and it will only get worse'.

Cases of female thyroid cancer, which is also closely linked to obesity, will nearly double to 4,800 a year. Some 57 per cent of women in the UK are overweight or obese (file photo)

He added: 'Simple lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular exercise and cutting down on alcohol will reduce rates of other cancers, too.'

Sarah Toule, of the World Cancer Research Fund, added: 'Our evidence shows that around a third of the most common cancer cases could be prevented if people were a healthy weight, had a healthier diet and were more active. For breast cancer, this would mean preventing around two in five cases.'

Professor Kevin Fenton, of Public Health England, said: 'The top things we all can do to prevent and reduce the risk of cancer are quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active and attending cancer screening when invited.'

Other experts called on the Government to intervene by investing in better research and treatments. 

Katherine Taylor, of Ovarian Cancer Action, said: 'Predictions that incidence will sharply rise simply must not be realised. These numbers wouldn't be so significant if ovarian cancer got the attention it deserves.'

Robert Music, of Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, called the disproportionate rise in female cancer rates 'extremely concerning'. The increase coincides with falling uptake of cervical screening, which is now at a 19-year low in England.

Sir Harpal Kumar, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: 'These new figures reveal the huge challenge we continue to face, both in the UK and worldwide.'